Women sow the seeds

Started in 1998, by the Damane family in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, the Ntantaise food security project has now grown into a community garden project, with close to 30 members. Through World Vision’s intervention, the project on a 52-hectare piece of land has become a significant source of food and income for community members, who would otherwise not manage to produce their own food.

Depending on the season, some of the project’s fresh garden produces include turnips, cabbages, beans, pumpkin and beetroot. The community members who work on the project acknowledge the positive difference the garden has brought in the area. 


As a child-focused organisation, World Vision, through its Umzimvubu Area Development Programme (ADP), has supported the project to ensure its success.
To address the challenge of water scarcity in this dry area, World Vision purchased a much-needed water pump machine worth more than US $4,000 and provided garden tools and seeds to the project team.

Top vegetable producers

Recently, the community garden members walked away with a trophy during a provincial flea market event, where they were recognised by the Department of Agriculture as top vegetable producers. 
“The flea market was a breakthrough for us. We came back with a good profit from selling the vegetables in the flea market and made contacts with some decision makers in the retail sector,” said Nokuzola Damane, one of the project’s founders. 

Women who work in the garden do not get paid, but they are able to provide a healthy plate of food for their families. Children often join their parents in the garden after school, a practice encouraged by World Vision.


“Researchers will tell you that learning to grow plants is mentally stimulating and adds to a children’s wealth of knowledge and expertise. It also teaches them to think of sustainability and the use of long-term problem-solving skills rather than relying on quick fix, short-term solutions,” said James Mboto, the ADP manager. 


The project has become more of a community-building project, as it has increased a sense of ownership and stewardship and fostered the development of a community identity and spirit.

Benefits of gardening

“Gardening involves physical activity, so it helps both elderly and young people to improve their physical fitness and this decreases susceptibility to illnesses and reduces the burden on the health care system, which is almost non-existent in our location,” a community member said.