Garden project helps pupils

Khayelitsha school pupils are learning how to start and manage a food garden, with support from Ludwe Qamata, affectionately known as the Ghetto Gardener, at Sinovuyo old age home in Ilitha Park.

Mr Qamata has helped the seniors at the home start their own garden, and pupils from the Centre of Science and Technology (Cosat) High School and Iqhayiya Secondary School have also been benefiting by doing workshops and practicals on how to start their own gardens.

Ahluma Pangani, a Grade 11 pupil at Cosat, said she had started volunteering at the project in 2019. “When I started here, I was washing dishes, sweeping the floors, and I decided to be part of the garden. I immediately fell in love with planting. I now have my own small garden at home where I planted spinach and beetroot. I also like helping out. That is my nature,” she said.

Iqhayiya Secondary School matric pupil Asimanye Ngotana said she now had her own vegetable garden with onions, cauliflower and spinach thanks to the Ghetto Gardener.

“I am glad to have come here and learn. But I am still learning,” she said.

Mr Qamata encouraged schools to create their own food gardens.

“These children are helping us a lot. We also get manure and other plants through them. When we started the food garden, we never anticipated that it would grow to make such a huge impact on the pupils even though it was a plan to have young people participate in it, especially those who live in this community. Every year, we harvest vegetables from the garden and provide nutritious plates to the seniors and some children,” said Mr Qamata.

Ntomboxolo Majikizela, co-ordinator at the project, said she was excited to have schoolchildren interested in the garden.

“It is courageous of them to be part of this project.. But they are here to learn so that they have their own gardens and encourage others,” she said.