Mail & Guardian reporter
Food and Trees for Africa, an NGO involved in “re-greening” the townships, launched the Thuthukani permaculture gardening project at the Thuthukani clinic in Ivory Park two months ago.
The project was started by a group of volunteers working with HIV/Aids patients in home-based care. Their aim was to help themselves, their patients and the community. The volunteers approached the NGO for training and support. The New Zealand high commission provided the funding, and the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Social Services provided technical support and materials and is monitoring the project.
Ten people from the community are involved in the gardening project, providing and preparing fruit and vegetables for HIV/Aids patients who are too weak to prepare food for themselves and often cannot afford fresh food. The project has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the health of the patients.
Community members are encouraged to join the volunteers to learn how permaculture can improve productivity, conserve natural resources and improve health and nutrition. They are also encouraged to buy the produce from the garden, which also sells fruit trees to raise funds to develop the gardens and expand the home-based care and feeding scheme.
Since the establishment of the project the environment of the clinic has improved and the quality of life of those involved has been enhanced. “We can now see that people have been empowered in that they are able to produce and sell their own produce, generate income and help the community. The [launch of the project] is an important step and we invite personnel from other clinics to join us in the hope that they will be encouraged and motivated to replicate this project,” says Sister Antonia Montshonyane of the Thuthukani clinic.