A caring teenager has rescued a once productive vegetable garden at a crèche from becoming a dust bowl.
Solomon Khakhathi (17), a student at the Leap School for Maths and Science organised volunteers from his school, Bokamoso Youth Project, Alex FM, Ekasi Gym, teachers at the crèche and community members to revive the garden at Toddler City Educare Centre on 8th Avenue .
The centre supports 75 children from six months to six years old and also 30 disabled people. It operates with a limited budget and the revival of the garden will help reduce its feeding costs.
Khakhathi said he inherited a liking for agricultural and charity work from his father. “This initiative is partly for my school’s environmental project combined with my desire to contribute in improving the well-being of disadvantaged children,” he said. “I want to be a role model and motivate other youths to share knowledge and skills they may have for the betterment of others.”
Khakhathi identified the garden as his project after he saw its gradual decline in productivity due to lack of tools. He received a R2 000 grant from a UK donor which he used to buy spades, hose pipe, forks, rakes and vegetable seeds. His support will include regular maintenance of the garden until the centre develops its own capacity to maintain it.
Appreciating the support, the centre’s principal Busi Mlambo said the garden would save them money, improve nutritional feeding of its beneficiaries and also involve the children so that they too can learn gardening skills, and know how to contribute to their own food security from an early age. “Parents will be trained on maintenance skills and the local neighbourhood watch will provide security,” she said.
Alexandra has many crèches operating with limited financial resources. They require extensive financial, material and technical support to ensure sustainable provision of pre-school support to needy children.
Details: Solomon Khakhathi; Solpel003@leapschool.org.za
