The Dikonyana community centre garden in Mangaung’s Namibia Square is helping combat hunger while training young people in agriculture. Led by Selina Majafi, the project now feeds 130 people weekly and supports local families.
At the Dikonyana community-based care centre in Mangaung’s Namibia Square, a small food garden is making a big difference. Founded by Selina Majafi in 2004, the centre has become a place of support for a community facing high levels of poverty and unemployment.
“I saw a growing need to care for vulnerable children and families,” explains Majafi. “I felt compelled to create a space where we could offer that support.”
After a challenging start, Majafi relaunched the food garden in 2012.
Today, it not only helps feed 130 people each week but also provides work and agricultural training for four young, unemployed residents. These young people have used their training to support themselves and start home gardens of their own.
With help from Shoprite and the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP), the Dikonyana garden now has fencing, shade netting, and a water harvesting system. Members also received 18 months of permaculture training and ongoing resources like seeds, seedlings, and fertiliser.
The centre has expanded its meal services from three to five days a week, and any extra produce is sold to help sustain the garden.
“The support from the community and partners like Shoprite keeps me going,” says Majafi. “Seeing the gratitude on people’s faces reminds me that our work matters.”
Shoprite’s Act for Change programme supports more than 250 community food gardens across Southern Africa. “Food gardens help vulnerable communities become more self-sustaining,” says Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at Shoprite.
Majafi’s dedication to the garden has created a lasting impact, offering both food security and skills development to her community.
By Ivor Price in It Takes a Village
