Thanda provides emotional, physical, and educational support through after-school programmes to 460 children in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our aim is to create graduates who are proud of whom they are; who are motivated, life-long learners; and who are critical thinkers with the knowledge and skills to improve both their own lives and their community.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
Where Thanda operates in rural KwaZulu-Natal, 60% of people live in extreme poverty and over 70% are unemployed. Food scarcity and malnutrition is common but the legacy of Apartheid, as well as generations of migrant labor and AIDS, has robbed communities of all essential skills for growing food.
How will this project solve this problem?
Our Agriculture Programme affords children and youth with an opportunity to break free from the cycle of chronic poverty by teaching sustainability, self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship through fun (albeit dirty) hands-on lessons! Expanding this programme with larger gardens and a variety of animals will enable us to reach more children of all ages.
Potential Long Term Impact
With just gardens and hens, we're already making big strides against food scarcity - half of high schoolers in our Agriculture Programme now eat from their own gardens. How cool is that?! Students who start gardens will have a food source to count on and a local business to grow. With access to local economic opportunities, students will be able to stay in their community, build relationships and become engaged citizens. They will shape the future of their community for generations to come.
Total Funding Received to Date: $27,868
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $12,133
Total Funding Goal: $40,000