JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 24 2009 --- An innovative idea of growing food crops within school grounds will ultimately help to feed more than 1300 children at Bonwelong Primary in Midrand, Johannesburg, thanks to GE Staff Volunteers working collaboratively with the school to plant crops in the soccer-field sized plot allocated for this initiative.
The 'Garden of Hope' project, currently in the start-up phase, was introduced by GE last year and involves establishing a large-scale garden to grow basic food crops such as grains and vegetables for children who attend the school and who in many cases do not have sufficient food at home.
"We embarked on this project after we realized that many children who go to the school rely at best on one meal a day. This affects their concentration and also their general health," said Thami Mbele, GE's Regional Executive for Southern Africa, whose office is located near the school.
He added that GE volunteers working together with the pupils and school administrators have now implemented a plan to eventually develop a diverse and all-year-round highly productive garden to reduce hunger and improve the nutrition of the children.
The Garden of Hope aims at supplementing the existing government school feeding program by using produce from the garden to supplement meals as well as providing agricultural training to learners and the school community.
"When it is fully operational, surplus produce will be sold to generate income for the pupils and the school helping reduce poverty," said Mbele.
This project was initiated six months ago, and going forward, Karima Cowan, Transformation Manager and leader of the GE volunteers council for South Africa will orchestrate the efforts of the GE employees towards the 'Garden of Hope', ensuring its sustainability in the long-term. GE employees will visit the site on a weekly basis.
The project was officially launched today in the presence of the school, GE employees and guests. GE is committed to making a difference by partnering with the community to enhance the lives of others and address local needs and challenges.
Karima Cowan commented: "We have a long history of volunteerism at GE, and our employees believe it is important to voluntarily give their time, skills and knowledge to improve the lives of people within the local communities. GE in South Africa has a great opportunity through our local GE Volunteers, to build stronger communities and ultimately make a real difference in the society."
Speaking at the launch, Principal of Bonwelong Primary School, Siphiwe Zulu, said that the project would make a huge impact on the learners, their families and the local community.
The Garden of Hope initiative seeks to reduce poverty and food insecurity - a problem that is increasingly becoming prevalent. According to the Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) more than 14 million people or approximately 35 per cent of the South African population are vulnerable to food insecurity, with the development of some 1.5 million children under the age of six being adversely affected by malnutrition.
Bonwelong Primary, a school in a disadvantaged area, has 1300 learners of which:
* 283 are orphaned
* 76 learners head their own families
* 92 learners with parents who are bed-ridden
* 386 learners come from severely poverty stricken families and
* 70 per cent of parents are unemployed.
Karima Cowan reported that GE is working closely with the school to upscale the project and make it a model project that can be replicated elsewhere.
Justus Waimiri
Kendal Hunt