Moriting wins Food Gardening Competition

Moriting Primary School from Mankweng was named the Best Mentoring School during the recent finals of the National EduPlant Competition held in Magaliesberg.
Three learners, Kholofelo Rahlapane, Ma­pitsi Masekwameng and Rose Malatji assisted by their mentor, Evelyn Makokga came up with a food gardening project that was selected as the best entry at the finals. Their project encourages communities to start gardens in their residential and school yards in order to produce their own food and fight poverty. Their endeavours culminated in a cash prize of R30 000, trophy and certificate of recognition.
A press release quoted Zinzi Mgolodela, director corporate affairs at Woolworths, who sponsored the event, to have said: “We are very proud of the 2018 EduPlant winners and celebrate all the finalist schools. These schools represented the brightest lights out of 326 schools from all provinces that attained substantial achievements in increasing their communities’ access to nutritious food.
“With World Food Day just up ahead, it is wonderful to see South African school communities taking action towards #zerohunger in South Africa. Despite limited resources in their communities, it is inspiring to see that these schools aren’t holding back when it comes to improving food security by growing their own food.”
One of the learners at the school, Kholofelo reportedly said they were elated to have won the competition and they will continue encouraging members of the community to start those backyard gardens for food security. “This will also help reduce the financial stress while ensuring household healthy diets.”
EduPlant, the country’s leading food gardening programme initiated and managed by Food & Trees for Africa has been funded by the Woolworths Trust over the past 14 years.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com