Afrika Tikkun is empowering and nurturing a new generation of agricultural leaders who are poised to transform the country’s food insecurity crisis.

Johannesburg, South Africa (21 October 2024) – Food insecurity remains a big problem in our country. At Afrika Tikkun, food security isn’t just about providing a meal; it’s about creating sustainable solutions that empower individuals and communities.

Through its agriculture-driven initiatives, the organisation is helping young people reclaim their power by realising the value of planting their own food.

On World Food Day, observed on 16 October, Afrika Tikkun celebrated the success of its Garden-to-Kindergarten (G2K) and Agripreneurship Programmes.

Through the G2K initiative, an understanding of and love for planting vegetables is cultivated for children aged between 2 and 6 years in the Bambanani Childhood Development (ECD) programme. Here, they are also educated about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating.

With a pressing need to address hunger, poverty, and food scarcity in the country, the innovative Agripreneurship Programme, is also equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient and contribute to their communities’ well-being by completing the 12-month training.

From planting seeds in the garden to managing thriving farms, these young agripreneurs get to learn the art of sustainable agriculture.

Aligned with the 2024 World Food Day theme – Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future – the programme drives positive change by nurturing a new generation of farmers who understand the importance of producing nutritious, affordable and safe food for South African communities.

The Agripreneurship programme is currently operational in Diepsloot, Sasolburg and Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal, with a total of 188 active candidates.

According to Afrika Tikkun, the 2023 graduates have already secured positions within retail stores, managing fruit and vegetable sections, highlighting the success of the programme in integrating young people into the agricultural economy.

With practical training conducted in modern greenhouses, these graduates are now fully equipped to grow, cultivate and supply nutritious food, supporting the broader World Food Day goal of increasing food diversity and availability in local communities.

“This initiative, part of Afrika Tikkun’s Cradle-to-Career 360° philosophy, is about more than just farming – it’s about fostering entrepreneurship and ensuring that young South Africans have the tools they need to thrive in the agricultural sector.

“By learning how to establish their own farms and urban agricultural projects, these young agripreneurs are poised to not only alleviate hunger in their communities but also create sustainable livelihoods for themselves,” said Afrika Tikkun Agriculture CEO Alan Fleming.

As South Africa continues to grapple with the challenges of food insecurity, these young agripreneurs are a beacon of hope. They are producing nutritious, affordable food, reducing reliance on imports, and creating a more resilient food system.

Sources: Afrika Tikkun

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Food plays such a big part in our lives and yet, so many people around the world continue to struggle with hunger, malnutrition and poverty. This World Food Day, the Do More Foundation is embarking on a mission to empower Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, the cornerstones of young children’s lives, to serve up wholesome goodness.

South Africa (15 October 2024) – In a world where food is a vital need, millions of children across the globe face a daily struggle against hunger and malnutrition. It is a heartbreaking and undeserved struggle that demands a greater call to action.

Playing their part to help promote better nutrition for South Africa’s children who need it most, is the Do More Foundation this World Food Day, 16 October – a global initiative to heighten public awareness of the world food problem.

The Do More Foundation will use the day to empower Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre cooks and practitioners to make healthy nutrition choices for the young children who enter their doors.

With the support of the Department of Health, Do More will increase the nutrition literacy of 1,000 practitioners and cooks through cooking demonstrations, food tasting and open dialogues this World Food Day.

Helping children thrive through better nutrition

Jabu Mthembu-Dlamini, Community Programmes Lead at the Do More Foundation, shared that the key focus of the programme is to enhance childhood nutrition.

“We believe that empowering ECD practitioners and cooks to make informed, healthy choices – despite their resource constraints – is essential.

“The alarming reality is that 90% of brain growth occurs between birth and age five, and malnutrition during this period can have lasting, devastating effects, including stunting, which hinders cognitive development and ultimately, an individual’s future economic prospects,” he explains.

As part of the initiative, ECD centres across South Africa will receive recipe books, grocery vouchers, and health and nutrition charts, enabling them to implement the newfound knowledge and track the progress of the children in their care.

On World Food Day, 40 ECD centres will also be assisted by local partner organisations and over 40 staff volunteers (known as DoMore Heroes) from various company sites to help them cook and serve these meals to the approximately 2,000 young children in their care.

Chairperson of the Nkomazi Young Child Forum, Rose Phelembe, highlighted that ECD centres play a crucial role in ensuring children from disadvantaged households access balanced, nutritious meals – something they might not always receive at home.

“The centres follow strict dietary guidelines verified by the Department of Health, which positively impacts children’s health, supporting healthy growth and development. This structured nutrition, alongside health monitoring and education, sets children up for success early on.”

Going beyond just providing basic sustenance, the collective effort is providing much-needed nutrition and the building blocks for a brighter future!

Sources: Do More Foundation

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Tomorrow is World Food Day, and the DO MORE FOUNDATION has big plans to enrich food security in South Africa!

South Africa (15 October 2023) — This month the DO MORE FOUNDATION (DMF) plans to celebrate World Food Day by bringing to life this year’s theme, ‘Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind’ at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the country.

In honour of World Food Day taking place on October 16, the Foundation is planting veggie gardens, making warm chicken meals and donating JoJo tanks to various ECD centres across South Africa through their ‘Heroes’, a term they use to describe their RCL, VECTOR and Rainbow employee volunteers.

They are also calling on donations from corporates, which they will use to establish the sustainable food garden, provide the staff with training and tools to maintain the garden and provide ECD centres with their very own JoJo water tanks.

“With the generous contribution of corporate partners, we’ll not only provide the centres with nutritious meals but also teach them the importance of sustainability and self-reliance. Participating corporates will receive an S18A certificate for all tax donations,” says Iris Naidoo, Partnerships Lead at the Foundation.

This campaign is set to impact 50 ECD Centres and 5 000 young children across South Africa, including ECD Centres in Linbro Park, Malelane, Midrand, Hammarsdale, Randfontein, Centurion, Wesville, Benoni, Nelspruit, Pretoria West, Rustenburg, Tzaneen, Durban North, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Wolwehoek, Worcester.

DMF currently provides instant Do More porridge to 28,000 children aged 5 years and under in ECD centres across various South African communities – including those in and around RCL FOODS production facilities.

“This year, we’re on a mission to create lasting change in the lives of young children by establishing sustainable food gardens at ECD centres in need across the country,” she says.

Adding that seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they witness the miracle of their own food gardens taking root outweighs any tax right-off.

“With corporate donations, we’re extending an exclusive invitation for employees of contributors to roll up their sleeves and join us on World Food Day to help establish the food garden and hand over the donated water tank. It’s an opportunity for corporate teams to make a tangible impact and foster team spirit,” explains Naidoo.

To date, DMF has launched various National Young Child programmes directed at improving nutrition, early learning and providing parent/caregiver support across the country. The Foundation also facilitates several deep-rooted community-specific development projects to promote universal access to a comprehensive package of quality services to meet young children’s developmental rights and needs as outlined in the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy and Nurturing Care framework.

About the Do More Foundation

The Do More Foundation was founded by RCL FOODS in 2017. They inspire more people and organisations to #DoMore for the young children of South Africa and facilitate meaningful collaborative partnerships by placing young children at the centre of the work they do.

Source: Supplied

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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