Rise Against Hunger Collaboration

On Friday last week, Soul Food’s new Chief Operating Officer Thabo Maluleke (on the left below) and Support Office Manager Ellen Mosiane (in the red t-shirt) spent the day with Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAHA). Our two organisations have been collaborating for many years and it was an honour to visit their garden/farms.

The first visit was to the Langalibalele Dube Primary School in Orange Farm, where RAHA sponsored and supported the first garden/farm. The farm is managed by Ms. Dorcus, (second from the right) a former SGB member of the school, who has been involved in farming for the past 14 years.

She has received numerous awards in agriculture and has expertise in Hydroponics and Aeroponics farming. Currently, the farm supplies produce to the local BOXER store and the school kitchen. During the meeting, Sam Mpungula (in the beige jersey) from RAHA suggested that Soul Food should consider procuring vegetables from the RAHA-supported farms/gardens as part of community development, given their significant production capacity.

Next, they visited another farm/garden in the same area, located in Drieziek, which is slightly smaller than the one at the primary school. This farm, supported by RAHA and managed by Pastor Thomson, includes a chicken coop housing 318 egg-laying chickens and two 20×8 tunnels. Additionally, Pastor Thomson runs an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre on the premises, serving 42 children, seven of whom are considered at risk.

Both farms have great potential and contribute value to their communities. These farms operate as commercial entities, relying on local customers and partnerships with RAHA. This presents an opportunity for us to strengthen our partnership and relationship with RAHA by supporting these gardens through vegetable purchases. Since both farms fall under the jurisdiction of Soul Food’s Sedibeng branch, Soul Food can provide support to the farmers with Soul Seeds, helping them reduce their costs and hopefully leading to a discount on the vegetables purchased.

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