Food – preneurs receive a helping hand from Sunshine Seedlings
Wildlands select the top performing Tree – preneurs (Super – growers) and Waste – preneurs (Super – collectors) annually, from the current 1500 individuals involved in the ‘Trees-for-Life’ and ‘Recycling-for-Life’ projects, based on the amount of waste they have collected and trees they have managed to grow . These deserving individuals are then given the chance to further their entrepreneurship activities and become Food – preneurs, by offering them vegetable seedlings courtesy of Sunshine Seedlings, as well as other starter kit items funded by Timefreight.
To date Pietermaritzburg-based wholesale nursery, Sunshine Seedlings have contributed over 22 000 seedlings to the upliftment of 11 communities across 3 provinces, namely, Khula, KwaJobe, Tembe, Haniville, Mphophomeni, Mzimela, Mbonambi, eSikhawini, KwaMashu, Luphisi and Vosloorus. Within these 11 communities there are currently 140 Food-preneurs, however as a project, the Wildlands Food-preneur Programme has assisted 249 individuals thus far and this figure is on the increase monthly.
Ncamisile Hlatshwayo of Wildlands, also gives these top performers 2 days of training in Sustainable Agriculture methods, followed by a day of Basic Business Skills training – further catalysing the entrepreneurship capabilities of these community members. Many of these Food-preneurs sell their excess vegetables within their communities, and not only feed their families but also supplement their income through this project.
The relationship between Wildlands Conservation Trust and Sunshine Seedlings was sparked in July 2011 when Ncamisile of Wildlands, approached the company for a quote to purchase vegetable seedlings for their Food-preneur programme. This conversation led to the first donation from Sunshine Seedlings, who have been consistently generous ever since.
“We recognise that we have a social responsibility to assist where we can. It feels good to know that our donations are being put to good use and that so many people are being helped in this way. We do not have the time or resources to implement a community programme ourselves, so partnering with organizations like Wildlands is a great way of making a difference,” commented Ian Sumner, Operations Manager at Sunshine Seedlings.
Wildlands are very grateful to have a partnership with such a generous company. Together with Sunshine Seedlings we are changing lives and uplifting communities and that is priceless.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)