There are many destitute people in South Africa who are dependent on the kindness of compassionate women in their communities. These women play the role of mother to many by providing food, shelter and support for those in need.
At Shoprite, we reach out to such remarkable women and take hands with them to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
We’d like to introduce you to a few of them:
Meryline Ntimande from Tiyimiseleni Home-Based Care in Mpumalanga
It was when she started seeing how badly her neighbours were affected by HIV/AIDS that Meryline decided to start Tiyimiseleni Home-Based Care. Her idea was to look after sick people in their own homes and feed their children while at it.
Establishing a vegetable garden to produce fresh food was a key component of her business. Poor soil conditions, however, made it something of a challenge.
When we heard about Meryline’s work, we immediately teamed up with Food & Trees for Africa to offer some support. By providing compost and mulch, we were able to assist the community in improving soil quality. We also ran workshops to train community members to make their own, which has improved the overall sustainability of the project.
The food garden is still thriving and providing nutrition to and an income for the community.
Margaret Thaba, Miriam Malunga and Lekau Nkoko from Modimo O Teng co-op
In 2011, Margaret Thaba, Miriam Malunga and Lekau Nkoko from Alexandra in Johannesburg, decided it was time to take action and improve lives in their community by growing nutritious food.
They secured a one-hectare tract of municipal land in their neighbourhood and started developing a small urban farm. Inspired by their strong faith, they called it Modimo O Teng, which means ‘God is here’.
Due to poor soil conditions, it wasn’t long before the project sadly faltered. Instead of giving up on their dream, however, the women pushed on and applied to Shoprite for support.
In partnership with Food & Trees for
““It’s very hard when you’re unemployed, but we were so happy when we got the help we needed from Shoprite,” says Margaret. “It means so much that we will be able to grow enough food to feed our families and also sell to our communities. We’ve even been able to contribute towards community events.”
We continue to support the wonderful work these women and their teams do!
Mickey Linda from Yiza Ekhaya Soup Kitchen in Khayelitsha, Western Cape
When Mickey Linda from Khayelitsha noticed how many people in her community were sick, hungry and poverty-stricken, she wanted to step in and make a difference.
So, she started the
She enlisted the help of a team of volunteers and, nowadays, they feed children whose parents are unable to provide for them before and after school. They also make hot, nutritious meals for patients at a nearby clinic on a daily basis.
To support Mickey’s good work, we teamed up with Food & Trees for Africa to establish a vegetable garden at
“I’m very
Lydia Hlophe from Yenzanathi Community Upliftment Programme in Botha’s Hill, KZN
From providing 10 households with food in Botha’s Hill to feeding over 250 people, Yenzanathi Community Upliftment Programme has boomed over the past few years.
Lydia
In 2016, we found out about the amazing work Lydia does and immediately dispatched a Mobile Soup Kitchen to provide additional support.
In partnership with Food & Trees for Africa, we have since helped Lydia establish a large vegetable garden at Yenzanathi. It is instrumental in producing fresh ingredients for the meals Lydia serves daily. The garden also offers an invaluable skills development opportunity for the community as those who receive food also maintain it.
Are you a woman making a difference in your community? Or do you know a woman who fits the bill and needs some support? Click here to email us!
