Vegetable tunnel brings community together
BRYANSTON–The Rotary of Randburg work together as a team to uplift the community and empower them.
The Rotary Club of Randburg is involved in a number of projects to uplift disadvantaged communities.
They have helped build three vegetable tunnels at the Refilwe Community Project in Lanseria. Public relations officer of Rotary Club Randburg, Jack Hartmann, said that they have had a relationship with Refilwe for the past two years and decided to build the third tunnel due to the large demand.
“We initially approached the community leaders in Joe Slovo informal settlement and started providing them with food on a weekly basis. One of our members found a way to reduce the cost of providing tunnels by 80 per cent. All our members participated in building the tunnels. The vegetables that are grown are used to feed the surrounding disadvantaged communities and are also sold in order to raise funds for Refilwe,” said Hartmann.
He added that people who are from the community are trained and work in the vegetable tunnels to grow vegetables such as carrots and spinach. Hartmann believes this a positive way to empower the community in acquiring agricultural skills.
“The vegetable tunnels are a hands-on project that also brings our members together, encourages us to practise team work and everyone who is involved is passionate about the project,” explained Hartmann.
Refilwe Community Project CEO Lelane Brits said that the Rotary helps them to sustain some of the projects that they are working on. The vegetables that are grown also go towards the Refilwe Bophelo Clinic which provides food to the elderly in the community.
“The tunnel has been a great success, the Rotary Club has also connected us with specialists to improve growing the vegetables. The community is excited for the older people who get to enjoy fresh vegetables,” concluded Brits.
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