A KwaNobuhle school plans to plough back into its community by using a R10,000 prize as “seed funding” for community based farmers.
Solomon Mahlangu High took top honours again at the national Youth Citizen Action Programme (Ycap) competition at the weekend which was hosted by Swadini Resort near Hoedspruit.
This is the school’s third appearance on the podium in as many years.
Ycap is a national youth competition aimed at improving education in SA by getting pupils to identify and resolve issues affecting young people in their areas.
A plan by a group of Grade 10 pupils will virtually eliminate the problem of pupils jumping queues during schoolfeeding programmes and bullying – with regard to stealing of food – as well as the general problem of bland meals, principal Mncedi Mtengwana said.
“They ended bullying through improved monitoring by prefects,” Mtengwana said.
“The bland-tasting meals are a thing of the past because of fresh vegetables coming direct from the KwaNobuhle soil to feed its children.
“The group also brought dieticians on board from NMU and the Laetitia Bam Clinic to improve the nutritional value, through the introduction of additional vegetables such as spinach for iron and parsley for flavour, which will be grown by the local farmers.
“The programme will create a sustainable income for several community members who will now benefit through the winnings as we provide them with seeds to produce vegetables that will be sold back to the school and community.”
Team member Chulumanco Myocwana, 16, said they had not been nervous even though they competed against the best teams from each province at the competition.
“It was a lot of work and research over several months but it was worth it when we heard the huge applause after our presentation,” he said.
Nonkosinathi Fila, one of the community farmers and head of the Vukuzakhe project that manages 10 farmers neighbouring the school, said being able to provide healthy produce for the pupils was enough of a reward.
“We are just happy the schoolchildren are able to receive a well-balanced meal, which aids in learning.
“The school has really gone a long way to include the community and improve the wellbeing of everyone who is attached to it, even creating employment for parents.”
School social worker Olwan Carson, who has been a pivotal part of the programme, also received the Change Agent Award for Sustainability for her work on the project and in the community.
“It was a huge honour, but it is all thanks to the school, staff and pupils for the continued support and belief in what we are trying to achieve at the school,” Carson said.
The school claimed first place in 2015 after eliminating late-coming by locking the gates promptly at 8am daily.
It came third in 2016 for improving lives in the community by providing parents with seeds to plant their own vegetable gardens, and uniforms for pupils.