Westonaria residents grow vegetables to alleviate poverty
The NGO is working with community members to plant vegetables to curb hunger in their area.
Sebueng Itumeleng, an NGO, is turning former dumping sites into vegetable gardens to feed the community.
Sebueng Sarah Segopolo, the NGO’s founder, explained they are a community centre focused on orphans and vulnerable children and youth. She added the area is surrounded by mines and the unemployment rate is a big concern. They then decided to clean up dumping sites in the area and turn them into vegetable gardens for food security.
“This is another way of fighting poverty. We encourage the community, especially the youth, to copy this initiative,” Sebueng said.
“I went to our municipal office to make them aware that I am using the land, to let them know that I am not disrespecting them, or land grabbing by force. Should they want to use their land, I will not hesitate to move along. But by the time the owner wants his land back, how many would have benefited from it? It can also have benefits in terms of profit-making. We are selling our vegetables for only R15 a bunch.”
The gardens are tended to by the NGO’s staff members.
“I also encourage them to form co-operatives. The dumping area is very clean now. The community cannot stop talking about how dangerous the area was before. The community is happy about the job well done and is fully behind the project.”
She noted this was not the first dumping site they turned into a food garden. In 2008 they started the initiative and received training in agriculture.
They are also asking the community for donations of poles, cement, fencing, paint, palettes for making chairs and any scrap metal.
Any person who wants to donate can contact Sebueng on 072 139 1025.
