Submitted by:
SayProCKG
www.saypro.online | info@saypro.online
1. Executive Summary
SayPro (Southern Africa Youth Project) proposes a strategic partnership with the Department of Education to implement the SayProCKG Food Gardening Programme in selected public schools across South Africa. This initiative is grounded in SayPro’s CKG model—Community, Knowledge, and Green Technologies—and is designed to address food insecurity, promote practical learning, and introduce climate-smart agricultural practices in school environments.
The partnership will focus on transforming unused or underutilized school spaces into productive school food gardens, integrating agricultural education into the curriculum, and improving the sustainability of school nutrition programmes. This collaboration will promote self-reliance, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurship among learners and educators.
2. Background and Context
South Africa faces significant challenges in nutrition, food security, and youth unemployment. Many school-going children rely on the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) for their only meal of the day. However, these meals often lack access to fresh vegetables and are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
Additionally, there is limited integration of agricultural and environmental education in schools, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. Learners are not adequately exposed to practical life skills such as food cultivation, sustainability, and community development.
SayProCKG Food Gardening addresses this gap by providing schools with tools, training, and mentorship to establish sustainable, climate-smart gardens that serve as both educational resources and sources of fresh produce.
3. Objectives of the Partnership
The primary goal of this partnership is to collaborate with the Department of Education to implement a scalable, school-based food gardening programme that achieves the following objectives:
- Improve food and nutrition security in schools through locally grown produce.
- Provide practical agricultural education as part of the school curriculum and extra-curricular activities.
- Introduce climate-smart, green technologies to promote sustainability and environmental awareness.
- Foster youth leadership and entrepreneurship through garden management and produce marketing.
- Strengthen community involvement in school development and food resilience.
4. Programme Components
4.1 School Identification and Assessment
- Work with provincial and district education offices to identify pilot schools.
- Conduct site assessments to determine feasibility, space, water access, and community readiness.
4.2 Training and Capacity Building
- Train learners, educators, and support staff in:
- Organic farming, composting, and soil health.
- Sustainable irrigation methods (e.g., drip systems, rainwater harvesting).
- Garden planning, planting cycles, and pest management.
- Nutrition and cooking with garden produce.
- Entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise in agriculture.
4.3 Garden Establishment
- Provide tools, seeds, seedlings, compost bins, fencing, and irrigation kits.
- Construct raised garden beds, vertical gardens, and shaded nursery areas.
- Include indigenous crops to support biodiversity.
4.4 Curriculum Integration
- Align garden activities with existing subjects (Natural Sciences, Life Orientation, Agricultural Studies).
- Develop learner activity workbooks, lesson plans, and teacher guides.
4.5 Garden Clubs and School Enterprises
- Establish learner-led garden clubs for ongoing maintenance and innovation.
- Facilitate school markets to sell surplus produce for school fundraising.
4.6 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Baseline assessments and impact tracking.
- Monthly reports on garden performance, learner participation, and nutrition improvements.
- Joint reviews with Departmental officials.
5. Roles and Responsibilities
SayPro will:
- Provide technical expertise, training, and materials for garden establishment.
- Manage project logistics, including staff deployment, monitoring, and reporting.
- Support curriculum integration and innovation.
Department of Education will:
- Identify and facilitate access to participating schools.
- Authorize the integration of agricultural content into the school programme.
- Mobilize district staff to support school garden activities.
- Endorse and co-monitor the programme for sustainability and compliance.
6. Expected Outcomes
- 100+ schools equipped with sustainable food gardens during Phase 1.
- 10,000+ learners and teachers trained in sustainable agriculture and nutrition.
- Enhanced school feeding through home-grown vegetables and herbs.
- Reduced costs in school feeding programmes by supplementing fresh produce.
- Creation of school-based enterprises selling garden surplus and learning agribusiness skills.
- Increased environmental awareness and responsibility among learners.
7. Project Timeline (Pilot Phase – 12 Months)
| Phase | Activity | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Planning & Agreements | MoU signing, school selection, assessments | Month 1–2 |
| Training & Setup | Educator and learner training, garden infrastructure installation | Month 3–5 |
| Implementation | Planting, garden activities, club formation | Month 6–10 |
| Evaluation | Impact reporting, joint review workshops | Month 11–12 |
8. Budget Estimate (for 100 Schools)
ZAR 5,000,000
Includes:
- Training and facilitation
- Gardening tools and irrigation systems
- Seeds, compost, fencing, and materials
- M&E, transport, and administration
9. Sustainability Strategy
- Integration into the curriculum for long-term engagement.
- Establishment of school-based garden management committees.
- Capacity building of teachers and community volunteers.
- Facilitation of partnerships with local agri-businesses and municipalities.
- Promotion of learner replication through home and community gardens.
10. Conclusion and Call to Action
The SayProCKG School Food Gardening Partnership is an opportunity for the Department of Education to enhance learner well-being, promote food security, and instill lifelong skills through sustainable agriculture. We invite the Department to collaborate with SayPro in this impactful programme, starting with a pilot phase and scaling nationally based on success.
We are open to meeting to further discuss the partnership structure, pilot planning, and funding options.
Contact Details
Puluko Graham Nkiwane
Chief Marketing Officer
SayPro (Southern Africa Youth Project)
📧 info@saypro.online | 🌐 www.saypro.online
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