In an effort to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) initiated the Vuk’uzenzele gardening project at Protea City.
According to the supervisor of the project, Sharon Mohatla, the gardening project aims to serve as a reminder to the community that they are capable of fighting poverty and ending hunger on their own.
“The lovely thing about this initiative is that everyone involved in the Vuk’uzenzele gardening project can now provide for their families.
“We know that hard times and food shortage are on the horizon, so people should start making sensible use of vacant land and spaces,” said Mohatla.
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Only elderly members of the community have been involved in the project since its start in September and they put in a lot of effort to keep the garden in impeccable condition.
Ward committee member under Health, Malerato Monyatsi said elderly people should take part in the Vuk’uzenzele project because gardening improves their health and provides them with exercise while also reducing the negative effects of stress.
“People need to understand that in order for them to avoid hunger, they must Vuk’uzenze meaning they should get up and do it themselves, rather than waiting on the government to take care of everything for them.
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“We should start being creative and use our minds and hands to fight poverty as well as unemployment,” said Monyatsi.
The members of Vuk’uzenzele would be very grateful if anyone could sponsor them or donate gardening supplies like hosepipes, garden netting and other gardening items.
“Gardening here every day helps me relieve stress because I’ve had a lot of traumatic experiences.
“This place allows me to be free and have a great time with the elderly people who are involved in this project,” said one of the elderly who is part of the project, Ntombiyokukhanya Mafuya.
