Posted by FTFA News Letter
Where unemployment is rife in a hot, isolated region of Mpumalanga, a food gardening project is making a difference in the lives of local community members.The Mahlekisana Permaculture Project at Mahlekisana Primary School is in Welverdiend Village on the border of the Ngala Private Game Reserve and Kruger National Park. The project was initiated in November 2006 with funding from Africa Foundation, through Old Mutual and other donors, and training and development provided by FTFA.
“This is a wonderful project and it is already bearing fruit. We have even been distributing vegetables to terminally ill community members, orphans and vulnerable children”, said Ms MK Dzambukeri, the school principal. Permaculture skills training conducted by FTFA in 2007 has involved the learners, 15 educators and six community members. The project serves as a shining example to other schools in the region that, as a result, have begun to initiate their own Permaculture food gardens. Thanks to further funding received from the Desmond Leech Bequest, the Mahlekisana Permaculture Project received additional plant material and has also established a propagation nursery.
The principal, Ms Dzambukeri has recently been nominated as a finalist in the Community Development category of the 2007 Women in Water, Sanitation and Forestry Awards. She had been entered into the awards by FTFA project officer Daniel Chitungo for her work in the community. “Brother Daniel, we have qualified and we want our certificates. Look at what we have achieved!” were the words of an excited Rose Maphanga Shabangu a community member who is one of the School Governing Board.
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