FTFA a finalist in Momentum for Change Awards

FTFA is a South African organisation addressing sustainable development through climate change action, food security, greening, and a with strong focus on environmental and global warming education and awareness.

FTFA, the only South African project amongst an international array of other winning projects, was invited by the UNFCCC to send three representatives to the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19), held from 17-21 November 2013. The delegation was made up of Joanne Carty, Food Gardens for Africa manager from FTFA, Lulu Khumalo from Pioneer Foods, and Moore Suzan Modiba, a teacher at Semana Primary School, who represented the beneficiary schools of the Limani project.

Sustainable livelihoods

"Through projects such as Limani we are supporting the creation of sustainable livelihoods for the beneficiaries, in this case school children, educators and their surrounding communities," says Carty. "The challenge of food insecurity in South Africa is greater than is realised and the Limani model has been designed to incorporate climate change adaptation and environmental education.

"We sincerely hope that the Limani project will become a showcase to motivate a more effective and holistic approach by government and the private sector. The goal is to reach out more intensively to some of the 75 schools in this northern Limpopo cluster initially, and build capacity for the whole cluster with a result of improved nutrition and livelihoods. Thereafter this model should be introduced across South Africa."

Enhancing feeding schemes

The schools participating in the Limani project produce vegetables which enhance the schools' feeding schemes, and surplus vegetables are sold into the community, creating entrepreneurial opportunities. This effective model can be replicated at schools throughout South Africa and incorporates many additional benefits such as seed provision, rainwater harvesting, pump irrigation, worm farms, recycling, solar cookers, herbal workshops, fencing, mapping and training in business skills.

"Pioneer Foods has a mission to contribute to the general health and well-being of society while feeding the nation and thus initiates public private partnerships that deliver on the government's socio-economic agenda to create capacity rather than just making donations, through an approach to building communities around its operations. The group invests in programmes that will become self-sustainable over time and always starts with pilot projects which can be replicated. Projects are designed to forge partnerships with stakeholders to maximise funding opportunities," says Khumalo.