Afrika Tikkun, a pioneering youth development organisation, is empowering young South Africans to lead the fight against hunger and food insecurity through its agripreneurship and Garden-to-Kindergarten (G2K) programmes.
These initiatives are part of Afrika Tikkun’s holistic Cradle-to-Career 360° model, which seeks to tackle food insecurity by fostering agricultural skills and creating sustainable pathways for economic empowerment.
At Afrika Tikkun, food security is not limited to providing meals but focuses on equipping individuals with tools to sustain themselves and their communities.
Operating five centres of excellence across Mzansi, Afrika Tikkun offers between one and three nutritious meals a day to children enrolled in its programmes. Through the G2K initiative, young children aged 2 to 6 in the Bambanani Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme are introduced to vegetable gardening and healthy eating habits.
The agripreneurship programme extends this mission by training young adults to become the agricultural leaders of tomorrow. Over a 12-month intensive course, participants acquire practical knowledge in greenhouse cultivation, business management, and sustainable farming techniques.
The goal is not only to equip these graduates with the ability to grow and supply nutritious food but also to foster entrepreneurship, enabling them to build small-scale agricultural enterprises that strengthen local food production and reduce hunger.
Empowering the next generation
Currently, the programme operates in Diepsloot, Sasolburg, and Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal, with 188 young agripreneurs actively enrolled. The 2023 cohort has already achieved remarkable success, with several graduates securing employment in retail stores, and managing fruit and vegetable sections, while others have embarked on entrepreneurial ventures.
These outcomes demonstrate the programme’s ability to create meaningful economic opportunities in agriculture, integrating youth into a sector crucial for South Africa’s development.
Alan Fleming, CEO of Afrika Tikkun Agriculture, mentioned that the programme is about more than agriculture – it is about creating future business leaders.
“This initiative, rooted in our Cradle-to-Career 360° approach, empowers young South Africans to thrive as agricultural entrepreneurs. It equips them to establish their own farms or urban agricultural projects, alleviating hunger in their communities while building sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
Fleming highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training provided.
“The agripreneurship programme develops the human capital needed for full and permanent inclusion in South Africa’s agricultural economy. It contributes to food security at every level – local, regional, and national. Agriculture offers unparalleled career diversity, especially for unemployed youth seeking economic stability,” he added.
Confronting the hunger crisis
Food insecurity remains a pressing challenge in South Africa, driven by unemployment and economic disparities. Research shows that vulnerable households, particularly in urban townships, struggle to consistently access nutritious food.
While national hunger levels have decreased significantly – from 30.1% of the population in 2002 to 10.7% in 2018 – many communities in Gauteng still face severe food insecurity, with up to 35% of residents affected according to Statistics South Africa.
“The agripreneurship programme helps break this cycle by teaching youth to grow their own food and launch small enterprises, fostering local economic development and reducing dependency on food imports,” said Fleming.
With over 40 000 beneficiaries, Flemming noted that Afrika Tikkun is deeply committed to building a more sustainable, equitable future. He called on the public, private sector, and government to increase support for initiatives that promote agricultural development and youth empowerment.
“Together, we can cultivate a new generation of agripreneurs who will drive sustainable solutions to hunger and food insecurity,” he said.
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