Food garden forms part of Miriam Makeba’s commemoration
Miriam Makeba Centre for Girls chairperson Thato Mokhothu said the food garden component will include the erection of shading net, land cultivation, fertilisers and pest control chemicals.
As part of commemorating the life of Miriam Makeba, the Centre for Girls in President Park will be establishing a food garden on November 9 in partnership with Meals on Wheels.
‘Mama Africa’, as Makeba was affectionately known, died of a heart attack during a 2008 concert in Italy on November 9 aged 76. Makeba had founded the centre in 2001 to provide a home for destitute and abused girls between the ages of 11 and 18 years. However, in 2018 it was closed down by the Department of Social Development due to mismanagement by the previous board.
Centre chairperson Thato Mokhothu said she was happy with the progress of the garden to help young girls since Mandela Day activities earlier the year saw the centre being revamped and painted. She explained that the centre works in partnership with Meals on Wheels and Afrika Leadership Development Institute also known as LeadAfrika, and other developments are earmarked for next year.
“[The] agricultural component included the erection of shading net, land cultivation, fertilisers and pest control chemicals. We are in the process of working together with social development to open the centre once again. The fear of having Mama’s [Makeba] dream or legacy dying with her is what triggered the thought to have the centre revamped,” said Mokhothu.
“We still have a long way to go as we want to ensure that we fix the staircase and kitchen as soon as possible as these were some of the flags raised by the Department of Social Development to ensure we comply with the health and safety regulations aligned to running such a centre.”
Executive director of LeadAfrika Tshiamo Dichabe said they had partnered with the centre to provide strategic advisory support. “A site visit was conducted in September 2021 and again in January this year where we discovered that [the centre’s] security features needed an upgrade. It is not sufficient for the project to operate successfully without theft.”
He added the centre needed to instal water tanks and solar panels for the supply of electricity.
Meals on Wheels CFO Effort Bhebhe said it was important to introduce girls to farming. “One of our objectives is food security and skilled development through poverty alleviation.”
He added they believed in the empowerment of women and girls and wanted to ensure that Mama Makeba’s agricultural vision is being achieved.
Details: Executive director of LeadAfrika Tshiamo Dichabe 0768959843.
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