World Food Day this year recognises the spiralling costs of food and the billion that are already hungry. The theme, “FOOD PRICES – FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY”, has been chosen to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable. Price swings, upswings in particular, represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. Hardest-hit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty (www.fao.org).

On 11 October 2011, FTFA, together with Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), celebrated World Food Day at the Rivoningo Hospice in Pretoria

“Through our CSI strategy, which underpins a paradigm shift in the way organizations approach CSI initiatives, PPC sees a real opportunity to transform traditional CSI projects into self-reliant initiatives.  The Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) food garden which will feed the needy beneficiaries from nine centres is a true testimony of how NGOs can acquire the much needed skills as well as being able to feed the hungry from the community”,  said Francie Shonhiwa, PPC.

Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) evolved in 2003 from the Pretoria Community Ministries (PCM) which was established in response to the challenges of a changing inner city. PCM was formed by six inner city churches. TLF was then formed to strengthen the unfolding movement with strategic management, capacity building, resource development, advocacy and policy work, communication and marketing, management support and spiritual nurture. The Foundation’s focus is on issues of women, girls at risk, homelessness, community development, health and child care, inner city housing and economic development. The Foundation functions with three distinct divisions: PCM, its social development division; Yeast City Housing, its housing division; and the Center for Urban Transformation. The divisions have smaller programmes dealing with specific social economic health and spiritual issues.

Now, on a piece of land, measuring about 150 square metres, is a permaculture food garden that has been developed by FTFA with the support of PPC.  The Foundation is making efforts to secure a bigger piece of land for the food production site since more food is required for their feeding programme. 

The main objective of the project is to feed the needy at nine centres of the Foundation, namely; Rivoningo Hospice, Lerato House (shelter for girls in crisis), the Potter’s House (for women in crisis), the two Tswelelang Foster Homes (for boys and girls), Rebokamoso (baby care center), Akanani Street Care Centre (for men in crisis) and Gilead (new shelter for mentally challenged women). Between 160 and 200 plates of food are prepared and distributed every day.

Beneficiaries of the Akanani Street Centre attended permaculture training workshops.  The skills can certainly be used beyond the Rivoningo Hospice centre and reduce dependency on the foundation’s handouts.

Currently the permaculture garden is flourishing with a diversity of vegetables and herbs. Just over one month old, the garden is proving to be a good working example which can be replicated anywhere else. 

“Its great to see Rivoningo Hospice having access to fresh vegetables and herbs within easy reach and at any time of the day.  With more space a lot can be done and more homeless people can sleep on full stomachs every day,” said Lawrence Tshuma, FTFA permaculture trainer.

At the World Food Day event, Tshuma conducted a workshop covering compost making, crop rotation, intercropping, companion planting, plant propagation and water conservation. A herb garden was also established.