Help a Woman. Feed her Family.
Project Background
In March 2020, YGE in response to the food shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, launched the ‘Help a woman, feed her family’ project in an informal settlement in the Gauteng province.
Evidence suggests that two of every five adults reported their household lost its main source of income since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restriction in March 2020. Coupled with unemployment that continues to rise, this has caused devastating consequences for food insecurity and household hunger. Hunger will likely continue to grow in South Africa, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The situation threatens food security and livelihoods of a large proportion of households receiving grants from the government and those who lost their jobs. The social relief efforts through local governments and non-state institutions are insufficient and non-sustainable.
Involving households in agricultural activities for subsistence farming could play an important role in reducing the vulnerability of urban and informal settlements food-insecure households.
So, what works best to improve access to food? There is a need to set up sustainable agricultural food systems that address hunger at the household level where communities are empowered to produce nutritious food for themselves.
‘Help a woman. Feed her family’ project’s goal is to improve livelihoods and wellbeing of 400 disadvantaged and marginalised women and their families in informal settlements in Gauteng Province, South Africa, through skills development in small-scale farming and agribusiness.
Project Summary
The ‘Help a woman, feed her family’ model is hinged on developing relationships with community leaders as our entry point and working directly with the youth, women, and their families to end hunger and improve livelihoods through agribusiness.
Project Purpose: ‘Help a woman, feed her family’ project’s goal is to improve livelihoods and wellbeing of 400 disadvantaged and marginalised women and their families in informal settlements in Gauteng Province, South Africa, through skills development in small-scale farming and agribusiness.
Help a Woman. Feed her Family - Vuzi Muzi Garden
Vuzi Muzi Community Garden Program
In March of 2020 the 'Help a woman. Feed her Family' project was piloted in the community garden program started 2019 in Vuzi Musi, Thembisa. Being an underprivileged community struggling to get everyday necessities and cope with day-to-day life, the project was welcomed.
Nutrition is vital for humans in order to live a healthy life and to take on life. For kids to grow normally and without any ailments from malnutrition. Within poorer communities, nutrition is usually sacrificed as it is not easy to obtain a nutritious meal, when money is scarce. With the Covid-19 pandemic it is now more urgent to bring nutritious meals to the underprivileged.
The 'Help a woman. Feed her Family' project aim within the community garden is to help the community members help themselves through educating them on small scale farming practices, entrepreneurship principles and financial responsibility. These come together to allow the individual to grow themselves and grow out of a poverty situation.
With the knowledge to start and grow a small scale farming business and with a boost from YGE with the construction of a community garden that can provide for the community both nutrition, opportunity to sell the produce and knowledge from YGE programs. The money could be used to grow the garden or shared between the members. Providing solutions allowing more independence which can only improve their lives.
Vuzi Musi is a positive start and as we grow we aim to help and provide a sustainable program that can service the community positively.
Project Purpose
Improved quality of life: Gardens will contribute to improved attitudes toward healthy food, improved understanding of life science concepts, and improved interpersonal skills, Children will children (and adults) to explore nature in the middle of urban areas.
Community advancement through the creation of entrepreneurs: The small businesses created by the women and youth, grow the community.
Employment opportunities as agribusinesses grow: Growing businesses create employment within their communities. Their knowledge being critical in the training of locals.
Taking on leadership roles: Community gardens provide the opportunity for people in marginalized groups to become leaders.