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Fundraising Projects
Blisters for Bread
Community Development Projects
PSFA assists Plantation Primary Set Up New Garden
Organic Community Garden Projects
Community Kitchens
FUND RAISING PROJECTS
Peninsula School Feeding Association's 2009 Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk, in partnership with GrandWest CSI, was a huge success! We had a record number of 14,100 participants converging on the Green Point Track on Sunday 30 August, in support of feeding hungry school children. The walk route along the scenic Atlantic Seaboard's Promenade, in combination with ideal weather conditions, allowed the 5km, 10km and 20km walkers to thoroughly enjoy the walk and the day.
Last year, we had to cancel 'Blisters' due to severe stormy weather conditions, which could have compromised the safety of walkers. This year however, we made up for it in grand style! It was heart-warming to see so many Capetonians stepping out in support of PSFA and the 228,000 children we feed daily. As GrandWest CSI sponsors all the costs related to staging the event, 100% of every R25 entry fee goes directly to our vital school feeding programme, which translates into R355,450, providing daily meals to 1,513 children next year while they are at school. T-shirt sales and donations from the public will also add to this total. Well done, Cape Town!
PSFA wishes to express sincere thanks to all those involved in the planning and implementation of the event. Most of all, we thank each and every walker! By supporting the Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk, you each provided 21 children with a much-needed cooked meal. Because of you, PSFA is able to reach more children. See you next year, on Sunday the 29th of August 2010!
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
At PSFA, we encourage community participation in school development, and the transfer of skills. To this end, PSFA continuously identifies schools at which possible income-generating community development projects can be established. We assist schools in identifying parents who are unemployed and train them to become self-reliant by earning an income to improve household food security.
The following projects have been implemented successfully:
- 4 large-scale organic community garden projects;
- 5 community kitchens, where operators sell low-cost, nutritious meals to learners and the community;
- We support local community bakeries, where possible.
Our vision is based on the overriding principal that "You can't teach a hungry child" and we endeavour to empower and strengthen local communities in their quest for sustainable growth and development.
PSFA assists Plantation Primary Set Up New Garden
Plantation Primary School in Grassy Park, with the assistance of PSFA, recently launched their newly established community organic garden. The school formally requested PSFA's help in setting up a garden on vacant land on their property. Mrs. English, the school principal, said it was a life-long dream to set up a garden for the children and the community.
The Anglo American Chairman's Fund generously donated the start-up funds for this project. In May, before the school holidays, approximately 1,500 sq. meters was fenced to accommodate the garden, while a borehole with a holding tank was installed for irrigation purposes. Three unemployed volunteers were sourced by the school from the community. Soil for Life, a sister non-profit organisation, is training the volunteers in organic gardening methods, including composting and earthworm farming. Mr. Harris, our community gardens co-ordinator, has worked closely with the volunteers in starting their compost heaps and planting 15 new beds with seeds and seedlings.
Once these vegetables are ready to harvest, some will be used to supplement the cooked meals at the school, while some will be sold to the community, as well as restaurants, with the profits being ploughed back into the gardens. Our very sincere thanks to The Anglo American Chairman's Fund for their wonderful support of this most important community-school initiative. We believe that this project will make a positive impact on this deserving community, and, in so doing, improve the lives of all the children at Plantation Primary!
Beryl, Deon and Gillian proudly tend the garden at Plantation Primary
The vegetables at Plantation Primary are growing well and almost ready for harvesting
Organic Community Garden Projects
PSFA has set up four (4) organic community garden projects. These are situated at Acacia Primary in Parkwood Estate, Eastville Primary in Mitchells Plain, Vukukhanye Primary in Gugulethu and Die Duine Primary in Lotus River.
The Acacia Organic Community Garden Project was first and was started in 1999. Situated at Acacia Primary School in Parkwood Estate, it was intended to be a 10m x 10m-size garden. The garden is now approximately 3000 square metres in size. The other two garden projects are featured in the photos on the left.
Die Duine Project
Eastville Project
Community Kitchens
PSFA has assisted five (5) schools in setting up community kitchens in underprivileged communities with the assistance of WARMTH Project and the Department of Poverty Alleviation and Human Rights.
The kitchens are situated at Kleinberg Primary in Ocean View, Acacia Primary in Parkwood Estate, Zeekoevlei Primary in Lotus River, St. Clement's Primary in Grassy Park and Die Duine Primary in Lotus River. The kitchens are now managed by WARMTH Project. The kitchens are set up in converted freight containers. Using gas equipment, the kitchen operators cook soup, stews and other healthy food, which is sold at a low cost to the school children and the community. These kitchen operators are able to earn a living and deliver a much-needed social service to their communities.
Zeekoevlei Primary School Community Kitchen
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