Vegetables to feed the souls
JOBURG - Meals On Wheels teamed up with with Standard Bank to promote sustainable living in the Diepsloot area.
The Mothers Love daycare centre in Diepsloot was provided with an eco-circle, a small area where a variety of vegetables are grown and where only a little water is needed.
On 7 August, the team dedicated the day to building these circles in order to continue the good work the daycare does. The centre provides two meals a day for the children of the area, their ages range from six months to six years.
According to Grace Masina, housemother of the centre, the eco-circles will allow them to provide fresh food for the children, as well as cut down some of the costs involved in feeding them. She also added that Meals On Wheels played a big part in initiating the eco-circle drive and they continue to bring in more help for them.
Hannah Mwenda for Meals On Wheels commented, “It is one of our main goals as a non-profit organisation to encourage other businesses to be involved in giving back to those who are doing good in their communities.”
Standard Bank manager, Elize du Preez, motivated their social awareness team to focus on getting involved physically and emotionally with their schemes, rather than just financially. The bank’s volunteers wore blue T-shirts with the slogan, Real time, Real people, Real progress.
Du Preez said, “By providing these eco-circles it allows for sustainable living and self-sufficiency to be maintained. The daycare [can] grow their own vegetables and plants in an eco-friendly manner.”
The eco-circles are designed to minimise the input of fertilizers and pesticides. While the plants will be self-watered through a non-degradable two-litre bottle that is buried in the eco-circle, Grace added the children would also take turns to care for and water the garden. She would also like the parents to get involved.
The vegetable garden and eco-circles will ensure that future generations attending the day care will be catered for.
