Special Projects

Abalimi implements a range of special projects and a few are highlighted below:

Hope of the Nation

Perhaps the greatest problem and fear we face in SA today is the millions of unemployed youth walking the streets; many of them with degrees and most with only basic education. This is a recipe for revolution and crime. Young men are often seen as a problem and are more easily caught up in “get rich quick” activities.

But there is truly serious and convincing HOPE ! Why? Because so many of these young people have a genuine, vibrant vision for South Africa – THEY are not giving up and running away. Quite the opposite; they are absolutely determined to feed themselves and their families. They create their own work, while improving the environment, all out of nothing.

Development of Louwville community garden in Vredenburg (Soul City)

Abalimi Bezekhaya was contracted to help to develop the very first community garden in Louwville, Vredenburg in partnership with Aurora Wind Power and Soul City. This included initial consultations, visiting Louwville to assess sites, bringing the Louwville community beneficiaries to visit Moya We Khaya to see Abalimi and the community work. Abalimi compiled a project plan and budget, and assisted with implementation.

Food security through home gardens project (Dept of Agriculture)

Abalimi offered basic agriculture training to 50 home gardeners in Nyanga, Philippi and Khayelitsha areas. This included the supply of start-up resources, such as manure, seeds and seedlings, as well as three follow up visits. Most of these gardeners made a good start, but as the summer drought came along many of the gardens were not kept up.

Community and home gardens in Monwabisi Park (VPUU)

The Violence Protection through Urban Upgrade (VPUU) Programme contracted Abalimi to develop two community gardens and train 18 home gardeners in the Monwabisi Park Area, in Khayelitsha. This includes consultation and site assessments, compilation of budget and planning and infrastructure development. Thirteen community gardeners and 18 home gardeners received basic agricultural training, as well as tools and production input such as manure, seeds and seedlings. Follow up visits and support was provided to these gardens.

Food garden project (NDA)

A food garden project was implemented in various areas including the Cape Flats and De Doorns for the National Development Agency (NDA). This focused on four pre-schools and three old age centres which included the provision of basic agricultural training, as well as tools and production input such as manure, seeds and seedlings. Eleven home gardeners were also training and received tools and start up resources. Most of the food gardens are being maintained.

Sinovuyo Old Age Club in Khayelitsha (Uthando)

Uthando is a non-profit community tourism agency that requested Abalimi to assist with the development a food garden at the Sinovuyo Old Age Club in Khayelitsha. The NDA funded the training resources (see above), while Uthando supplied the infrastructure and some production resources. This included liaison with the contractors to install infrastructure such as a borehole, shade house and raised planting beds for wheelchair access.

Young farmers Training Centre (YFTC)

The YFTC Apprenticeship Programme was launched in 2015 at the Siyazama Community Allotment Garden Association (SCAGA), which has trained over 20 young farmers since its inception. This programme was unfortunately not implemented in 2017 due to funding constraints, but the infrastructure and gardens are being maintained. A 2016 trainee is contracted to keep the vegetable production going in the tunnels and on some of the plots with funding from Rotary Constantia and the income from the YFTC produce sold to HOH. Further funding is currently being sought to continue YFTC Apprenticeship Programme.

UFISAMO Research Project (Humboldt-University, Berlin)

The Urban Farming in South Africa and Mozambique (UFISAMO) Research Project facilitates training and partnerships with the following objectives:

Study food habits, consumer bahaviour and current systems of urban agriculture to analyze urban farming value chains in disadvantaged urban areas.
Investigate the benefits and risks of crop and animal farming in urban areas.
Establish an urban farming research and education network.
Provide local capacity development and knowledge exchange through transferring research results into policies and practices.

Abalimi is one of the partners supporting with the project implementation over a period of three years.