Food security guaranteed

Standard Bank and Meals on Wheels Community Services, a non-profit organisation, donated vegetable gardens to two early childhood and development centres within the week.

Their staff developed a vegetable garden at Boitumelong Early Learning Centre on 6th Avenue and at Ntokozweni Day Care and Community Centre.

The garden was developed using the eco-circles model which limits soil erosion, is easy to maintain and is good on water conservation in water scarce environments. The team at Boitumelong planted cabbage, spinach, beetroot and bringles. Joyce Tau of Standard bank said the centre was a deserving recipient of their support as it provided poor children with foundational learning, which will change their life circumstances when they progress to primary and higher levels. Tau said the garden will compliment their learning with the supply of fresh vegetables making for a balanced diet. Also, it will compliment the learning programme with physical activities when children tend to the garden. “It will also improve their knowledge of different plants and give them life skills in gardening to support their self reliance,” she said. Tau added the bank’s improvement of the centre’s sustainability was evidence of its commitment to corporate citizenship. “The community members and centre staff made this objective easier for us through their humility, simplicity and friendliness. They motivated us to do this garden in the interest of their children especially the poorer ones who will obtain supplies for home consumption.”

Thandi Mkhize, the centre principal, commended the support saying they appreciated the commitment of corporates and development organisations to improve the local environment. She said the centre which started from a shack gradually improved to more spacious facilities through the support of others. “The garden will provide for meals at the centre and also provide food parcels for the needy and their families.” She added the support was a continuation to what others had done like Bidvest, which had revamped the toilet facilities to improve the childrne’s health and hygiene. “They restock the toilet with sanitary towels and toilet paper every month and occasionally provide other support where needed.

Details: Meals on Wheels Community Services; 0860 000 700, Boitumelong Early Learning Centre; 011 443 7271