Vukani Community Project, a beneficiary of FoodBank Durban, has started a support project to empower women in addition to just feeding them. Women, who previously were idle at home, now have a range of life-changing programmes such as exercise, literacy, financial planning and the growing of an Ilima garden to choose from in order to develop valuable skills to create self-sufficiency.
Support groups teach the women gardening skills and how to run a garden in their own backyard. There is a food security program that helps them in their daily lives and Foodbank Durban has played a facilitating part in initiating the gardening program. The Department of health, Department of Agriculture, as well as the Thekwini Municipality have helped out by providing much needed gardening tools.
The empowerment of these women has helped to involve them in educational talks. They have set dates for their events which include, in May, a Candle Light Memorial Day, and on the 12th of August 2009 an out-door event is planned for the many women around Umlazi. The point of these events is to educate women on their rights and to empower them to become involved in their communities.
The Vukani Community Project is a member of Ilima.
For more information you can contact Bahle on 031 564 414
