Everyone knows that hungry children canât learn, but for many youngsters in South Africa receiving a nutritious meal every day is a luxury.
GrandWest has committed to alleviate the plight of two schools through establishing food gardens. Vegetables and herbs grown on school grounds will now supplement Riverton Primary in Bishop Lavis and Zandvliet High in Macassar. The gardens will supplement the schoolâs feeding programmes to ensure they provide two wholesome meals a day to learners in need.
GrandWest General Manager Mervyn Naidoo said, âGood nutrition not only has a long-term impact on a childâs overall health and ability to develop, it also impacts on behaviour. A diet that is rich in nutrition increases energy and concentration, both vital for a good performance in school.
âBoth Bishop Lavis and Macassar have faced economic hardships for many years, but the pandemic has exacerbated these and added new challenges, which has left parents struggling to provide for their families. The vegetable garden will go a long way to ensuring that these schools are able to include fresh vegetables in their feeding schemes.â
In December 2020 both Riverton Primary and Zandvliet High became beneficiaries of the GrandWest sandwich drive to alleviate the strain placed on their current feeding programmes.At Riverton Primary GrandWest invested just under R12 000 to provide poles, cement, sand and netting to establish the garden, along with a JoJo tank, composting, vegetable seedlings and transport.
An amount of almost R23 000 was donated to Zandvliet High to clean up and re-establish their existing vegetable garden. As with Riverton, GrandWest provided the structure to encase the garden, as well as a JoJo tank, composting and seedlings.
Vegetables that were planted in the new gardens include spinach, cabbage, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, celery, lettuce and beans.GrandWest also provided the labour to construct the gardens and to plant their first crop.
Both principals are delighted with the results:
âWe are truly appreciative of the support the school has received from GrandWest, with the first harvest of the vegetable garden we were able to use the produce for meals as well as sold a few to our educators and by doing so generating additional income for the schoolâ said Principal Swartz of Riverton Primary School.
âGrandWest has really made an immeasurable impact on our school and on the lives of the children, in so many ways. We are grateful to be in partnership with them because our lives have been enriched by all that they do, and the way in which they serve. No amount of thank youâs can define our sincerest gratitude,â said Principal Plaatjies of Zandvliet High School.
