N E W S L E A F

The majority of South African children and youth are living in urban and informal settlements. Most of these children are mainly orphans, vulnerable, school drop outs and have no means of income, some of their parents and or relatives are retrenched, unemployed and some passed away through HIV/AIDS. These youngsters are left with very few opportunities to make living; some are now involved in very destructive notions such as substance abuse, criminal activities and teenage pregnancy. The reasons for this are mainly to be found in poor manner in which young people are conducting themselves and lack of entrepreneurial skills, information and exposure to Permaculture farming activities. Food & Trees for Africa through Johnnic Communications (FTFA) is playing a vital role in promoting and training the caregivers on the utilization of natural resources to produce sustainable food production.

At Thembelihle Home Based Care, Permaculture food garden project, FTFA placed food security; HIV/AIDS, nutrition and education in the hands of the women. Thirty young women are involved in Permaculture food production and HIV/AIDS awareness programme. These project members are playing an important role in bringing up and feeding two hundred and fifty orphans and vulnerable children in Mangweni area.

FTFA disseminating skills, knowledge and information to project members to realise their potential to become self-employed, self-sufficiency and self-sustainable by utilising the available natural resources at their disposals to produce organic fresh vegetables. FTFA Permaculture farming activities are in line with government skills development strategies, which were launched in 2001. The strategy is aimed at reversing the country’s current low skills level and high unemployment by providing young women with substantial skills, knowledge, democratic values and more importantly opportunities to apply them in their lives. FTFA is greatly contributing towards the skills development strategies as stipulated by the government of South Africa.

Food & Trees for Africa and project members managed to put a smile on the orphans and vulnerable children in Mpumalanga. FTFA is grateful to contribute towards development and meet the three dimension of health body thus spiritual, physical and mental to the orphans and vulnerable children of Mangweni rural area.

Compiled by Joe Matimba 2009