They contributed R15 each to open a bank account to start their self-help gardening project in February 2002. Prophets of doom predicted their downfall, but they never gave up because they have a common goal in mind – to win the war against poverty and unemployment!

Out of the 53 individuals who started with the Denzhe Mukula Garden Project, 14 dedicated members have never thrown in the towel. They still hold on, because they believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Members of the self-help project include the unemployed and, amazingly, the sick. A senior member of the project, Eunice Nethenzheni, explains how it started: “We were given land by the local headman here at Mukula and it was not easy, as we had to clear the bushes with our own hands. We solely depended on donations to buy our first seeds because we had very little cash. We used to carry water from the local river for irrigation, but it is now better because we have an engine that pumps up water from the river. We sold our first products to the public and save more money to buy seeds and other garden equipment…”

Eunice says they at times plant maize meal, butternuts, cabbage and tomatoes.

“We get technical support from the Departments of Health and Agriculture in our work. Although we don’t make enough money that we can provide ourselves with living wages, it is better than just sitting at home and doing nothing. At bad times, we do not get anything but we can’t give up because we know that one day we will defeat poverty…”

According to Eunice, the project has not reached a stage of self-sustenance and there is still much to be done to make the situation better.

“We do not have a proper fence, and domestic animals sometimes graze on our products. We also do not have a storeroom and we hide our garden equipment in the bushes. We still need more hand hoes, spades and digging forks because they are old and no longer performing well. Besides that, cruel members of the community steal our products at night and this has a negative impact on our turn-over…”

She further requested financial assistance from the public so that they could acquire a toilet, more petrol for the water pump, work suits and to fix the road that leads to their project site because it is inaccessible.

She advises other unemployed members of the community to do something to uplift their lives.

“Wake up and make things happen. Our future is in our hands and we need to take some steps to make our lives better…”

The project can be accessed by calling 076 292 6906.