Congella Park food garden will generate income for homeless
A partnership between municipal departments and business is aiming to address food security and poverty alleviation.
EXCITING developments at Congella Park are giving hope to the homeless with the creation of a food garden that aims to help generate income and provide produce for surrounding local restaurants food outlets.
Last week, the city’s Parks Department in partnership with DSW and the Umbilo Business Forum (UBF) hosted a workshop for the homeless living in Congella Park. The homeless men were first trained in permaculture, organic food gardening, propagation, companion planting and compost making, and then, together with with Makhambi Khawula from CANSA and Ndondo Ngcobo from NPO iThemba Lethu, they set about creating a food garden below the depot in Congella Park.
“The idea is to help these men somehow earn their own money. The vegetables will be grown here and will create work for the homeless who have been trained. It is all about personal upliftment,” said Jabulani.
Long term plans for the park include the establishing of a recycling centre with appropriate recylcing bins placed in the park. Jennifer Rampersad from Parks said plans formed part of the Case Study for Congella Park which was addressed at the recent Parks Summit at Durban Botanic Gardens. At the recent meeting between Parks and the UBF, Rampersad outlined a three-stage plan to revive Congella Park, asking for contributions from the UBF, churches and schools in the area.The UBF, represented by Sikho Msomi and Ian Campbell-Gillies, saw contributions to a major change in the park having an immediate effect in reversing the degredation of the area, increasing its attractiveness for business to be conducted and revitalising property values.
“In the Congella Park project, tilapia can be farmed utilising the natural spring water, permaculture assisted by Jennifer’s department can supply local restaurants and begin to support permanent jobs at the park in early phases. The UBF believes in addressing the causes of poverty as a solution. In order to generate a return to some form of self-respect and of place the park could also sustain toilet and shower facilities for the transient poor. It is visualised that the service be charged out at nominal rates in order to re-engage hopeless and jobless individuals with the value of transactions. Restaurants and shops buying fresh vegetables could also donate food to the passing citizens, thus making the Umbilo area a place of caring and job creation,” said Ian.
He said the business acumen of UBFs members could be used to assist Parks and Gardens to ensure the plans are sustainable.
Jennifer, along with Jabulani Memela from DSW, got the ball rolling last week, when the workshop was held at Congella Park.
