Vodacom has lifted the veil on its Green Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme in which it facilitates the planting of vegetables at centres across the country. This, the company says, will ensure access to food through sustainable farming initiatives.
The programme is presented as part of their commitment to halve their environmental impact by 2025, says Takalani Netshitenzhe, external affairs director for Vodacom South Africa. Eight centres will benefit from a six-step sustainability journey where viable food gardens are being planted. This supplements feeding schemes while promoting sustainable practices.
“The latest figures show that over nine million people in South Africa are facing high levels of acute food insecurity,” says Netshitenzhe.
“For children, with the basic right to food out of reach, learning often falls by the wayside. Urgent, immediate action is needed through sustainable farming practices, which can help to reduce these food gaps now and in the future, as well as to support education while preserving our planet for the next generation.”
Sustainable access to healthy food
With the alarming food insecurity statistics in mind, the first step of Vodacom’s Green ECD journey is to ensure access to food through sustainable farming at these centres.
To complement these gardens, the programme will also run educational workshops and training for educators and parents on sustainable farming practices. In addition, they will be able to use their new-found knowledge to guide young children in making better choices for the planet.
Furthermore, the installation of clean solar energy and a sustainable water supply has seen each ECD centre fitted with a 5 000-litre JoJo Tank to collect rainwater, as well as six solar panels and energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
Vegetables and fruit planted in the gardens, including tomatoes, butternut, spinach, beetroot and peaches, have been chosen for their nutritional value and their ability to withstand varying growing conditions. The food gardens also provide opportunities to supply local vendors and increase access to fresh produce in the area.
Netshitenzhe explains that Vodacom has also already kitted out many of these centres with laptops and tablets to be used as resources for educators and children on how to follow sustainable practices.
The ECD centres benefitting from the programme are Grasar Daycare Centre in Gauteng, Lady Frere Daycare Centre in the Eastern Cape, Divhani Community Creche, Hulisani Daycare Centre and Mvelaphanda Daycare Centre, all in Limpopo, Strydenburg Daycare Centre in the Northern Cape, RANS Future Kids in Mpumalanga and Sthandokuhle ECD Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
“At Grasar Daycare Centre, we want to create a safe, educational space for the young children in our community. For many, the only healthy meal they receive is with us at the centre. The sustainable food gardens are not only nurturing their physical well-being, but nurturing their minds with learning opportunities. This will lay a solid foundation for their education in the future,” says Grace Maluleke, owner of Grasar Daycare Centre.
The start of a green journey
At the end of 2021, several volunteer days were held at each ECD centre, where participants could assist educators and members of the community with gardening activities and join in introductory workshops to sustainable farming methods, such as permaculture. Green infrastructure has been installed at two of the ECD centres with the remaining installations to take place early this year.
“We are excited to go on this green journey and help look after the planet for the next generation. By receiving training in sustainable practices, and using digital technology as an educational resource, we can pass on knowledge to not only the children at the centre but to the rest of our community. This can empower them with new opportunities to transform their lives,” adds Maluleke.
“ECD is recognised as a national priority in our government’s National Development Plan: Vision 2030. Through partnerships with local NPOs, private businesses, and communities, the Vodacom ECD Green Programme is ensuring children are given the best start in life with appropriate learning material, nutrition, and infrastructure. This supports our efforts in going further together to connect the next digital billion to a better future without a cost to the environment,” concludes Netshitenzhe.
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