By Loveness Hulwane

The HaReJeng (Let Us Eat) Community Engagement Garden project, which was launched in 2023 at the North-West University's Vanderbijlpark Campus, has yielded its first harvest.

The project aims to promote community engagement, service learning and sustainable food production while alleviating poverty in the surrounding communities. It was inspired by Dr Elize Küng, the deputy dean for stakeholder relations and community engagement in the Faculty of Education, and spearheaded by Prof Magda Kloppers and the staff of the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. They will also work closely with the Thutopapadi project, of which Prof Stef Esterhuizen is the project leader.

The garden project has been embraced by all, and students, staff and the community have shown their support. The rugby team has taken responsibility of watering the garden's crops and harvesting the produce.

"It is an absolute joy to see how staff and students are taking ownership of this project, and its success is certainly due to their hard work and dedication – together we are making a difference," says Prof Linda du Plessis, the deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations.

As the first spinach crop was harvested, Prof Du Plessis is also challenging staff to share their spinach recipes, with a prize to be awarded to the winner.

Prof Kloppers also thanks everyone for their continued support and kindly request further assistance. “We need 1 024 seedlings for the 64 African Grower towers, any used kitchen utensils, spades, and rakes for visiting youngsters, wooden crates from which kitchen equipment for a ‘mud-kitchen’ can be created, binoculars, and a water fountain.”

For more information about the project, please contact Prof Magda Kloppers at 084 583 2521 or Prof Stef Esterhuizen at 076 163 9648.

The HaReJeng (Let Us Eat) Community Engagement Garden project on the Vanderbijlpark Campus has yielded its first spinach harvest.