NPO launches communityvegetable garden in Ndofaya

In a bid to curb high levels of poverty and hunger, the Nyeleti Lighthouse Non-Profit Organisation has launched a community vegetable garden in partnership with the Sinqobile Clinic in Meadowlands, Zone 10.

The vegetable garden will prioritize elderly persons who are on chronic medication as well as the unemployed, vulnerable and needy people within the area.

According to the organisation, identified beneficiaries will be given vegetable packs that will ensure that those on medication are able to take it not on an empty stomach.

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“We have patients and elderly people who come to the clinic very early in the morning. Most of them when they come to the clinic they haven’t had breakfast because they come as early as five o’clock just to queue so that they can be served early.

“We thought let this project be for the community especially many of whom, we know are grant recipients,” explains Founder, Zakes Manda.

The launch was to introduce the project to the community, which they said will bring great assistance in tackling issues of hunger but also promote healthy living and organic foods to the community.

Part of the project will focus on skills transfer and sustainable development by equipping community members to be self-reliant and through backyard farming, and garden farming in urban areas. They hope to be able to even provide the training.

“It is important with the tough economic times, they’ll be able to eat proper food because it’s organic, healthy, and promotes long life.

“We are happy that the community itself will be involved in actually working on the garden. And most importantly, the plan is for people to learn to garden for themselves in their homes so that they can have food,” added Wisani Shibambu, secretary of the NPO.

The garden will also support the NPO’s current feeding programme in Meadowlands, where they provide weekly meals to 100 children in the area.

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The NPO said it was paramount that through the project, they also bring economic relief and opportunities as they hope to provide fresh fruit to be sold to generate income and empower residents involved in the project.

“Everybody can make employment for themselves. That is why the idea is for the project to be expanded into people’s homes and hopefully with local schools to reach more people.

“We are involved with the other organisations that are doing gardening to bring these ideas to life,” the pair added.