Yesterday, we were honoured to welcome Michael Baum, Zack Baum and Andreas Loy from the Yope Foundation to our new Sakumlandela Garden in Khayelitsha. This new garden, fully sponsored by the Yope Foundation, highlights the incredible impact of meaningful partnerships and shared values.
The day was filled with heartwarming moments and meaningful connections, starting with a beautiful welcome song from the Earthchild Club Members, followed by a fun and interactive yoga practice led by Noks, giving us a chance to pause and connect. From there, we gathered in the garden alongside the Sakumlandela Principal, My Dyum, school staff, our Eco Warriors, and the Urban Harvest team to celebrate this exciting project. Ben Getz, Director of Urban Harvest, introduced the planting activity, and the garden came alive with everyone planting together.
This is the second garden at Sakumlandela Primary School; the first was established and ran successfully for four years. Over the years, we’ve learned that maintaining a thriving garden requires consistent resources – time, funding, and care. To ensure this garden flourishes, we will employ a local community member to oversee its upkeep, with Urban Harvest visiting twice a month to mentor and train the gardener, as well as provide ongoing resources to ensure the garden’s success. This approach not only supports the garden but also invests in the local community.
The garden is more than just a place to grow vegetables. It’s an outdoor classroom where learners will experience environmental education in action – gaining hands-on experience with food cycles, sustainable gardening, and the importance of green spaces in the community. It’s a peaceful space where children can connect with nature and a sustainable source of fresh produce to supplement school meals. For educators, it’s a serene spot for meetings and collaboration.
None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the Yope Foundation, and we’re so grateful to Michael Baum and the Yope Foundation team for believing in this vision and making it a reality.
Watching the children’s excitement as they explored the new garden and contributed to its growth reminded us why this work matters so much. Sakumlandela Garden will continue to be a space of growth – not just for plants, but for the children and community.
