News Release

Gardening Projects in KZN Provide Food for School Children

Sharon Eubank, Director of LDS Charities, recently visited the sites in KZN

LDS Charities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has partnered with Enterprise iLembe to support the National School Nutrition Program at three separate sites in KZN. Enterprise iLembe will be purchasing all the vegetables that these small communities grow. They in turn will use this produce to feed the children in schools through the National School Nutrition Program.

Using “Ramp Pump” technology provided and installed by LDS Charities, crops can be irrigated, in spite of drought conditions in the area. These pumps are specially designed to run without fuel or electrical power. Their function is based on a very old technology that relies on water pressure that is caused by gravity. It requires very little maintenance and is very reliable. Through this technology, the water is pumped into holding tanks where it is stored and delivered via gravity flow to the gardens. Project members from throughout the community will be doing the gardening.

Sharon Eubank, Director of LDS Charities, recently visited the gardening projects to survey their progress. She was joined by Phillip Moatlhodi, Africa Southeast Area Welfare Manager and Kenneth Mofokeng, Assistant Manager. Elder and Sister Howden, Public Affairs missionaries, also accompanied the group, along with employees from Enterprise iLembe. During their site visits, they met with project members who will be working in the gardens. All expressed excitement and gratitude to be involved in such worthwhile projects.

The three projects are located in Ithubalethu in the Mandeni Municipality, Mary Grey in the Indewedwe Municipality and Sakhazizwe in the Maphumolu Municipality. 

Through this valuable partnership, the Church is progressing toward making these three small communities more self-sufficient through profitable vegetable gardening. It will prove to be a great blessing for the community and for the children who will be receiving this much-needed nutritional food.

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