Urban farming project a win for the homeless in pilot project
The 10-month project will employ and equip first group of homeless with skills in first project from the president's employment scheme.
Practical solutions are what are needed to sustainably help the homeless transition off the streets and into self-sustaining lives.
Housed under the Joburg Inner City Social Economy Project, several urban farming projects have been launched, which is a giant step in the quest to help the vulnerable.
The Johannesburg Homelessness Network’s Mary Gillett-de Klerk has been at the forefront of fighting for the rights of the homeless and appropriate solutions.
Gillett-de Klerk said, “Participants are carefully selected and will embark on a 10-month programme to equip and support them on their journey off the streets.
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“The president [Cyril Ramaphosa] established an employment scheme where a social economy fund was made available to help the homeless access the first rung of employment or to get training to make them employable.
“We submitted a bid with other organisations which was successful. For now, our focus is mainly in the inner-city and surrounding suburbs”
Three sites have been established in Braamfontein, Randburg and Rosebank.
“In all sites, but especially in Rosebank, we are hoping to launch a ‘farm to table’ project in collaboration with local restaurants whereby our harvests are of use to nearby businesses. Apart from experience in urban farming, we hope the skills our participants learn will enable them to work in allied fields too.”
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Auxiliary social workers have been appointed for each site and have already started working. They, in conjunction with partners, will ensure the men and women who participate in the project receive holistic help and support.
If you would like to support these efforts, donations of hand garden tools, watering cans, spades, forks, wheelbarrows, and other gardening equipment would be gratefully received.
Donations can be made at the following sites:
- Holy Trinity Church: 16 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein
- Randburg Methodist Church: Corner Grove and Bram Fischer Drive.
If you would like to connect with De-Klerk, you may email her on joburghomelessnetwork@gmail.com
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