Operation Hunger?s activities are far reaching and wide spread. All projects are
based on community needs and carry elements of development, nutrition and/or relief.
Our regional offices are managed by the following Coordinators:
Gauteng Region:
Jeffrey Muluadzi
Limpopo Region:
Frans Themba
North West Region:
Leonard Davids
Western Cape Region:
Clement Summerton
The successful management of sustainable development projects requires a total commitment
on the part of these coordinators towards their work and the communities they serve.
Our current activities and projects are summarised in the following pages of this
document. Please contact Operation Hunger?s offices should you require any further
detailed information regarding any of these projects.
VEGETABLE GARDEN PROJECTS
Operation Hunger supported a community vegetable garden project at Zwelethemba in
Worcester and twenty home gardens in both Spandau and Green Park, Cape Town. Approximately
sixty families were involved in these gardens and more than 360 men, women and children
have benefited from the activities and the fresh produce.
A vegetable production and rainwater harvesting project in the Kannaland Municipal
area at Calitzdorp is being initiated. The project is sponsored by the NDA. This
is an income-generating project that will involve fifteen families and benefit about
300 people. In Limpopo the Tshabadimaketse garden project is going from strength
to strength. The size of the garden has been increased in order to produce more
vegetables. Fifteen women and five men are involved in the project and 140 people
are directly benefiting from the income and fresh vegetables.
A small garden project run by three women in Naphedi is providing a local school
with vegetables. These enterprising women are also growing seedlings to assist a
nearby nursery.
The Kodumela garden project is an example of sustainable economic empowerment. Eight
women and four men are actively involved in growing tomatoes on a fairly large scale
and more than 100 tomatoes are sold daily to a local businessman.
The Newlands vegetable garden project in the Eastern Cape, funded by the NDA, resulted
in 100 men and women receiving garden training and hippo water rollers and in the
establishment of 100 home gardens. Vegetables grown included cabbage, spinach, beetroot,
onions, green peppers and turnips. Many persons living with HIV/AIDS and TB benefited
from the fresh produce. Home Based Carers were also able to use the fresh vegetables
for those who were terminally ill.
POULTRY PROJECTS
Four income generating poultry projects have commenced in the Western Cape thanks
to once-off funding from Semester at Sea. These projects, based in Green Park, DeDoorns,
Grabouw and Elandsbaai, will benefit three orphan-headed households, elderly people
in the community, six families experiencing malnutrition and families affected by
TB and malnutrition respectively. In all the poultry projects will generate income
for 26 families.
The Malemati poultry project in Limpopo, funded by the Nedcor Foundation, represents
a milestone in the development of this community. The 100m² building which will
house 1 000 layers and the storeroom have been completed. Ploughing of the land
has commenced in preparation for the vegetable garden. This project is the only
initiative in a community of 1 200 households and will result in 15 400 men, women
and children having access to fresh vegetables and eggs. Fifteen women are running
this project and 105 people stand to benefit economically from its implementation.
NUTRITION PROJECTS
Targeted feeding programmes have been initiated following community based nutrition
surveillance projects in Spandau, Green Park, Grabouw, Worcester, DeDoorns and Khayelitsha,
Cape Town.
More than 80% off all children participating in the programme are moderately to
severely malnourished. Short term feeding support has benefited 30 families.
In the Eastern Cape, Operation Hunger participates in the daily feeding of approximately
1200 men and women and 600 children in the Port Elizabeth area. Soup kitchens have
been established in Kwazakhele, Zwide, KwaDwesi, New Brighton, Motherwell, Well?s
Estate and Ramaphosa.
The principal beneficiaries are street children, HIV/AIDS orphans, needy adults,
elderly persons awaiting grants, TB patients and persons living with AIDS. Community
groups offering crèche and educare facilities are also assisted wherever possible.
The fundraising endeavours of Agape Trust make much of this feeding possible.
The nationwide food collection drive undertaken by First National Bank employees
went a long way to relieve hunger in many of the impoverished areas supported by
Operation Hunger. Communities in the Ratlou District of the North West Province,
Newlands and Port Elizabeth areas of the Eastern Cape and many communities in the
Western Cape and Gauteng benefited specifically from this generous donation.
Water Tanks for rainwater harvesting (rain catching)
This exciting project has already been initiated with the training of Operation
Hunger field staff and community members on how to build cement water tanks for
the collection and storage of rainwater. These attractive looking water tanks, which
will last a generation, will add value to the landscape with an array of finishes
making homeowners proud. 2007 will see the erection of at least 300 such tanks and
in addition will ensure job creation opportunities for all trainees.
Each trainee receives a manual and certificate on the successful completion of the
training course. Once they have been equipped with the moulds and tools, they are
ready to start their own business building and selling these water tanks to home
owners. Rain water is channelled into the tank through a simple gutter and down
pipe. The bulk of the raw materials are sourced from local hardware suppliers. This
saves transportation costs and helps stimulate the local economy. Casual labour
is drawn from the local communities and is not limited to men, as women are also
being trained to build these tanks. The manufacturing process includes the application
of multiple layers of special fabrics which have been soaked in a mix of cement
slurry and additives. The entire tank is then plastered and water proofed. A lockable
tap is added at the bottom and a secure lid is placed on top to keep out mosquitoes
and dust.
The steel mould is removed from the completed tank to be used over and over
again to manufacture the others. These rain catcher water tanks will last a generation,
yet they cost less than their plastic equivalents
HIPPO WATER ROLLER PROJECT
Improving access to water is an ongoing initiative of Operation Hunger, since this
is a most basic human need. The 90-Litre container enables women and children to
be able to collect much more water with ease over long distances.
Another Citigroup handover was recently conducted at Steelpoort in the Limpopo province,
benefiting at least 100 families with improved access to water.
STRESS AND TRAUMA HEALING
Poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, TB, terminally ill and dying friends and family members
and crime leave communities stressed and unable to cope and sustain themselves.
The work of Operation Hunger cannot be successful in demotivated and stressed communities.
Capacitar practices have been introduced into communities with whom we work and
people have said that they feel healed and motivated to go on with their lives.
Some projects have gathered momentum again as a result of the positive mood in the
community.
Many of the target communities experience high levels of violence and abuse and
many individuals lack self esteem and have no enthusiasm for the future. High stress
levels are not only observed but have also been raised as a concern by communities.
Poor people cannot afford expensive counselling and are left to manage stress and
trauma on their own.
Unfortunately, stress relief is often sought in drink or drugs. Capacitar practices
have been introduced into communities to equip them to manage and cope with stress.
Capacitar, an international network working in more than 30 countries, uses simple
wellness practices to empower grassroots people to deal with the poverty, violence
and trauma of their lives. Operation Hunger is seeing positive results and more
and more families in our communities are requesting Capacitar training.
