Change Makers | Ekasi Project Green

Abonga Tom and Sizwe Nyuka Mlenzana, at Ekasi Garden Headquarters, Vusamanzi Primary School, Khayelitsha. ©David Peter Harris

Abonga Tom and Sizwe Nyuka Mlenzana, at Ekasi Garden Headquarters, Vusamanzi Primary School, Khayelitsha. ©David Peter Harris

 

 

The creative heart of Site C in Khayelitsha  is a vibrant group of young peeps. They all share a common passion,  positive leadership and commitment to bring about innovation, hope and positive change, starting from their community. One of the Change Makers episodes featured Xolisa Bangani and Ikhaya Garden, the vegetable garden at Isikhokelo Primary School that is spearheading the movement to make “gardening cool”. Ekasi Project Green is a brother organization, based at Vusamanzi Primary School. It was started in September 2014 by six friends, who took inspiration from their makhulu’s garden in the Eastern Cape, with the idea of guaranteeing a healthy diet for the students. We met up with Abonga Tom and Sizwe Nyuka Mlenzana, who have been friends since they were kids. In the ten years I have lived in Cape Town, this was my second trip to Khayelitsha.

Why Ekasi?

“Young people like to believe in what they see, they watch us and want to get involved. Ekasi is a role model, by doing we motivate children to explore their talent and creativity. Our passion is fueled by the difference we see we’re making and the excitement of the students at Vusamanzi Primary School when they come running to help and play”.

The overall influx of bad news coverage is acting like a counter agent to change, and this is why Sizwe, Abonga and friends are joining forces.

 

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Samkelo and Asange stand by their vegetable garden. They took up gardening since Ekasi started.©David Peter Harris

 

 

“A tip for Social Innovators? Be ambitious, self-confident, patient, safe and most of all, free your mind and stay positive. Don’t compare yourself to anybody else but stay focused.”

Ekasi is also working in partnership with Slow Food Youth Network, an organisation from Italy that promotes good, clean, fair food with a focus on sustainability. “Slow Food Youth Network is very supportive in everything we do, from the WE LOVE OUR SEEDS workshop and Funky Vegetable Festival we organized here in Khayelitsha. We also volunteer for the organisation and presented Slow Food in Good Food and Wine at CTICC”, Sizwe tells me .

Sizwe recently returned from France, where  he attended the 3rd Eating City Summer Campus, alongside 42 people from all over the world. The Campus offered a global platform where participants could discuss the impacts of food system on  natural elements, identify the problems and also come up with solutions. They wrote a declaration which will be presented in Milan this October in the event called Terra Madre Giovani – We Feed the Planet and again in Paris at the COP21 summit to Ban Ki Moon the general secretary of the UN. Sizwe tells me “What I learnt is that as young people we need to be involved in this movement because young people are the future we need to be part of the solution when it comes to climate change, food sovereignty and sustainable ways of living”. 

While I was writing this post, I scrolled down my news feeds, and I stumbled upon an article on the TED page. “Leadership Advice from the Dalai Lama”, some of my personal favourite keywords had come up and I couldn’t ignore it.  One of the quotes seemed fit to show the collectiveness of Ekasi Garden’s story.

 “Don’t be discouraged by the terrible news we hear; in reality, that reflects a small portion of the human story. Beneath the ugly tip of that glacier lies a vast reservoir of sensitivity and kindness.”

Ekasi Garden and Ikhaya Garden are hosting an Eat In event on the 26th September 2015, from 9.30am until 1.00pm, at Moses Mabhida Library, Site C, Khayelitsha. The event, supported by Slow Food Youth Network, emphasizes the a story behind every pot. Eat In is about making friends and celebrating food; different chefs will be showcasing their recipes, telling their stories about their food and their culture, tradition and environment. 

Get in touch with Ekasi Garden via their Eco Atlas page.

Change Makers | Amanda Lewis & Saucisse Boutique Deli

The smile of change : Amanda Lewis owner of Saucisse Deli, Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town ©David Peter Harris.

The smile of change : Amanda Lewis owner of Saucisse Deli, Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town ©David Peter Harris.

 

Recently, we met Amanda Lewis, owner of Saucisse Boutique Deli, a family-run speciality meat and cheese Deli, located in the heart of Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill. When we chatted, Amanda had just returned from three weeks in Zambia, where she headed GreenPop’s Bush Kitchen for the treevolutionaries who planted trees with the team at Zambia Festival of Action 2015. Saucisse is a food hub of handpicked local suppliers, offering a high quality selection of local food. With her personal journey, ideas and future plans (including a sustainable cook book called Eat Food), it was an inspiring chat about her passion for food.

“It all started when I opened my own business. It was the first time that I was in a professional environment where I could set my own rules, buying what I wanted to buy and implementing the system I wanted. Originally, I went into it concentrating on the ethics of my products, which are 100% local and small scale, establishing a platform for small producers to showcase their home-grown products. “

She then went to Zambia with the GreenPop Team in 2014. “Ethically I was very happy with my choices. Then, while running the GreenPop kitchen for six weeks, I had my eureka moment when I realized that I had to concentrate on the waste aspect of food too. I remember wondering “How come I haven’t been thinking about it?” I started being packaging-conscious, and once back in Cape Town, I was overly inspired, and my staff thought I had gone nuts! We started recycling and at first it was only up to me to get the system running; a year on, this has become the way of life at the Deli”.

Saucisse is one of the only businesses at the Biscuit Mill that recycles and, besides using biodegradable packaging and cleaning products, it has teamed with Food for Thought and all food wastage gets delivered to the Night Haven Shelter in Observatory.

Saucisse Deli has teamed with Food for Thought and all food wastage gets delivered to the Night Haven Shelter in Observatory.©David Peter Harris.

Food wastage gets delivered to the Night Haven Shelter in Observatory.©David Peter Harris

Amanda personally chooses all the suppliers she represents:

“This is a process I take really seriously. I meet them directly, I taste everything myself, making sure that the quality of the product is high level, while being produced as ethically as possible, trying to keep everything preservative and colourant free. I mainly work with really small-scale suppliers, from a mother-daughter team making jam to a producer who grows her own Kombucha using spring water from Newlands.”

What are the challenges of spearheading such a strong eco-friendly business ethos?
“It needs a lot of pre-planning to make sure that the system falls into place. It also entails a strong educational role we play with suppliers and customers alike, creating awareness on the reasons why we should put care into producing and selecting food that is free-range, locally made, with just a few ingredients. You might be paying a little more, but you know exactly what you’re getting. For example, our cured meats supplier handles everything himself, from sourcing pigs to butchering so I know exactly where all his meat comes from; he now has to compete with mass-production suppliers who we have no idea what goes into their products, how is that possible? This is the main problem; you need to be aware of what you’re buying.”

 

“We need to create the connection with where food comes from, reconnect with the person who produces our food and the person who is selling our food.”

Saucisse is a local showcase of high quality, small scale suppliers, handpicked by Amanda ©David Peter Harris.

Saucisse is a local showcase of high quality, small scale suppliers, handpicked by Amanda ©David Peter Harris.

“Tips? Open up the knowledge about what you’ve been eating. Go online and find all the eye-opening facts about the importance of vegetables and herbs. There is a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips; you just have to look for it. It is also empowering to learn how to read food labels, don’t pick up your food out of habit and be aware of what you eat.”

While David snapped a few pictures, I gazed around the buzzing Deli and my eyes were drawn to the wall where the Eco Atlas poster was, next to a beautiful quote by George Bernard Shaw “There is no love sincerer than the love for food”. It’s no surprise that Saucisse has adopted such philosophy.

 

Visit Saucisse, Monday to Saturday, or get in touch via their Eco Atlas page .

Change Makers | Stellar Organics | Irene Dell

Irene Dell from Stellar Foundation at one of the estates during the launch of the off-the-grid project ©David Peter Harris.

Irene Dell from Stellar Foundation at one of the estates during the launch of the off-the-grid project ©David Peter Harris.

 

A few years ago I noticed a funky new wine brand at the bottle store; a red wine with a very interesting label called Live a Little. Quirky on the outside, this  wine was produced by Stellar Winery, South Africa’s largest producer of fine organic and fair trade wines. At the time, Stellar was one of the only of its kind for its innovation in winemaking (holding the organic certification and being vegan friendly) as well as its focus on people and their social empowerment.

The Live a Little label was on my mind during our drive to the cellar, situated at Kyshalte, just outside Vredendal in the Western Cape. I was about to put a whole lot of new faces to the name Stellar and it was exciting. I had been in contact with Irene Dell, a longstanding and empowering employee of Stellar Foundation, a non-profit organisation, and we had been invited to the launch of the renewable energy project.

On our arrival, Irene and I sat at her desk and she quickly briefed me on some of the social projects the Stellar Foundation runs; the projects are intended for the workers, their families and the communities within the area ranging from a free primary health care scheme, a judo club to vegetable gardens, a crèche in Trawal as well as the latest off-the-grid project. Irene’s passionate words made me realize how close she was to the issues we were touching on. One of the only women in a mainly man-workforce, I asked her what her secret is.

“I listen to what people’s needs are and I am familiar with their conditions and situations. Because of cultural differences, one should be careful not to impose ideas from one’s own cultural situation on others but see how a dialogue can bring issues and options up. Our biggest thing is to satisfy needs while communicating the responsibility on the other side. Giving responsibly paves the way for sustainability.”

 

The Consol lights are Phase I of Stellar's off-the-grid project. ©David Peter Harris

The Consol lights are Phase I of Stellar’s off-the-grid project. ©David Peter Harris

 

Stellar Multi-estate sources organic grapes from independent farms, which, together with the cellar, bottling and packaging plant make up a Fair Trade structure, Stellar Winery Multi-Estate. Workers on the farms and in the winery, including seasonal workers, together own 26% of the enterprise through shares in the Stellar Empowerment Trust. Irene, David and I spent the afternoon together, driving from one estate to another, officially launching Phase I of the off-the-grid project, which involved distributing the Consol solar-powered lights. I loved seeing Irene interacting with the workers. She totally gets them and cares so deeply about their upliftment and personal growth.

“We are not out to change the world. We are only hoping to better lives with what we do. It’s the small, the  little things we do”.

That night we were hosted by Willem Rossouw, Managing Director of Stellar, and his family. While sitting at the dinner table eating a typical Weskus snoek dish with fresh, homemade beer bread, I expressed my deep admiration for the  range and quality of the social upliftment projects that are ongoing.  William replied saying that “The most important project is the one you cannot see”, referring to the portion of the business the workers own through the Fair Trade shares. Agreed.

Everything about this short visit made a sound impression;  the affectionate relationships at the cellar, the motivation to improve lives in the area and the softness interwoven in it. Before Irene and I parted, she added something, which exemplifies her loving and passionate nature.

“There are always solutions to problems, you just have to ask nicely and they will turn up”.

 

Farm workers preparing and clearing the vineyards of any weeds or plants that will hinder their organic production©David Peter Harris

Farm workers preparing and clearing the vineyards of any weeds or plants that will hinder their organic production©David Peter Harris

 

I personally came a long way from the first Live a Little bottle label, and I spent the drive back thinking of the kind of impact we make, even when shopping for wine.

Get in touch Stellar Organic Winery via their Eco Atlas page and vote with your wallet when next you’re scanning the shelves for a good wine….

 

 

 

 

Change Makers | Lunchbox Theatre

Mcedisi Ncedani and Stuart Palmer. Stuart started Lunch Box Theatre in 2007, bringing theatre projects as primary awareness raising tools for important issues that are relevant to South Africa’s youth ©David Peter Harris

Mncedisi Ncedani and Stuart Palmer. Stuart started Lunchbox Theatre in 2007, bringing theatre projects as primary awareness raising tools for important issues that are relevant to South Africa’s youth ©David Peter Harris

 

I met up with Stuart, Founder/Director/Facilitator/Script Writer and Actor of Lunchbox Theatre and Mncedisi Ncedani, Actor, Facilitator, Project Manager and Dreamer, after their catchy and  engaging Whale Show at a Primary School in New Horizons, Plettenberg Bay.

“There is so much passion in what we do. Passion for the theatre, passion for using our craft in a fun and educational way, passion for reaching kids, who are the generation of tomorrow; at this age group, they are young enough  to have that sense of wonder with vivid imaginations but they also start to measure their own impact in the world, and when they walk out of here, something has set in. So this is not just a job, this is a calling. “

 

Wanda the Whale, the star of the Whale show, is made entirely out of recycled materials. This amazing puppet was brought to life by South African Artist Simon Max Bannister ©David Peter Harris

Wanda the Whale, the star of the Whale show, is made entirely out of recycled materials. This amazing puppet was brought to life by South African Artist Simon Max Bannister ©David Peter Harris

Since 2007, Lunchbox has been using theatre as a medium to educate South Africa’s youth (grade 3 to Grade 7) and foster employment. Lunchbox Theatre is based in the Western Cape.

Read more on Lunchbox Theatre or make contact via their Eco Atlas page.

Change Makers | Nebula Skate of Mind

 

Rayne Moses, Founder and Director of Nebula, at Nebula’s Youth Development Programme in Gugulethu,Cape Town. ©David Peter Harris

Rayne Moses, Founder and Director of Nebula, at Nebula’s Youth Development Program in Gugulethu,Cape Town. ©David Peter Harris

 

“Doing this makes my life worth living, it gives me purpose and creates possibilities for others. Experiencing the difference we make in kids’ lives as well as the joy that skateboarding brings to all of us makes me keep going.”

 

Nebula creates and facilitates a nurturing, dynamic environment where young South Africans can explore their potential and grow through experiential learning and entrepreneurial activity. Rooted in passion for skateboarding, art, design, music and dance, Nebula sources strategic partnerships and creates solutions to the social and economic challenges our youth face in their communities.

 

Kurt Daley from Nebula (right). Nebula visits the school in Gugulethu three times a week. The first hour is Circle Time, where the group sits together and academic/behavioural issues are addressed and resolved, within the circle. ©David Peter Harris

Kurt Daley from Nebula (right). Nebula visits the school in Gugulethu three times a week. The first hour is Circle Time, where the group sits together and academic/behavioural issues are addressed and resolved, within the circle. ©David Peter Harris

 

“Why do I believe it makes a difference? I can see it day by day. For example, a boy who joined our programme in 2013 is now a top performing student in his class and is growing up with a Nebula Skate of Mind!”

Nebula started off at a Gugulethu Sports Complex, but it aims to implement its youth development programs throughout Cape Town. Nebula has also developed an apparel line to fund its expansion.

If skating is your thing, or you would like to support their work, contact Rayne at Nebula or visit their Eco Atlas page.

Change Makers | Ikhaya Garden

Xolisa Bangani, Head Farmer and Founder of Ikhaya Garden at Isikhokelo Primary School in Site C, Khayelitsha, Cape Town. ©David Peter Harris

Xolisa Bangani, Head Farmer and Founder of Ikhaya Garden at Isikhokelo Primary School in Site C, Khayelitsha, Cape Town. ©David Peter Harris

 

“At first I started with the passion for nature and growing produce; now I love seeing the project running,  young people stepping up and doing great work for food security, sustainability and care for the environment here at Isikhokelo Primary School and the larger community in Khayelitsha. A tip for Social Innovators? Learn how to stay independent and local, but attract different people, from different places and you’ll see something special happening.”

Started in September 2013 as a community based organization, Ikhaya Garden in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, is an organic food gardening and sustainable living project, aiming to involve the youth by creating a connection with nature while strengthening the bond between the school and the community as part of social development. Xolisa is leading change in his community by portraying gardening as a fun, cool model that mixes art and gardening. After only a little more than year from its creation, Ikhaya Kulture has started spreading in the community in the form of other projects in Khayelitsha.

 

Contact Ikhaya Garden on their Eco Atlas page, spread the Ikhaya Kulture and join them on their next planting day/ workshop. It’s real fun!

 

 

Change Makers | Florence Chabanel

Florence Chabanel, co-owner of Le Fournil de Plett, Plettenberg Bay. @ David Peter Harris.

Florence Chabanel, co-owner of Le Fournil de Plett, Plettenberg Bay. @ David Peter Harris.

 

On my first visit to Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, I was pleased to find many stations where people could drop their recycling in the colourful bins. That was just one of the many signs that Plett is not only the ultimate holiday escape, but is a town built on firm eco ethics and awareness. Florence Chabanel, the French half of Le Fournil de Plett, is one of the drivers of this inspiring eco shift.

“Our passion is making our customers happy, in the same way you would treat your friends at home. We believe that you are what you eat, so nothing tops natural food that is chemical and preservative-free . At Le Fournil we are proud to make all our dishes from scratch, from home-made artisan breads to real stock for our hearty soups.  Sourcing and offering free-range and organic products as much as we can is our ethic and neither Jane (co-owner) or myself are ready to compromise.”


“What difference do we make in the world? We actively  participate in educating people’s taste as well as making our staff proud of their skills and their creations. So maybe we are not making a difference to the big world but we certainly do make a difference in our small,  little world. “

 

Le Fournil de Plett prides itself in a business ethos and inspiring eco choices, which pave the way for bigger changes.

Pop in for an almond croissant and a cup of coffee, or visit their Eco Atlas page.

Change Makers | Alshaun Bosch

 

Alshaun Bosch in his garden, Steenberg, Cape Town. He signed up for the training program offered by Soil for Life (SFL) and won Gardener of the Year @ David peter Harris.

Alshaun Bosch in his garden, in Steenberg, Cape Town. He signed up for the Home Food Garden Program offered by Soil for Life (SFL) and won Gardener of the Year in 2014 @ David Peter Harris.

 

We met Alshaun at his place in Steenberg, a community in the Southern Suburbs where very often gang crime flares up, putting its residents at high risk. He welcomed us with a bright smile, thrilled to take Louise from Soil for Life around, showing her (and us) the new developments and additions to his home vegetable garden. He tells us, “I wasn’t really interested in gardening before, I started by chance. Then, the first seeds started growing and I noticed little things coming alive. Now when I eat, I think that my food comes from something that was once little; I am in love with vegetables and I always tell my kids to eat them.”

“Gardening helps me with being patient, I never stop trying to get the results I want. My garden is my joy and my safe place. I sometimes hear gun shots but I know I am safe here. It has become a meditative, spiritual and liberating experience”.

Alshaun took part in the Home Food Garden Program run by the Cape Town-based NGO Soil For Life (SFL). The organisation educates and trains people in organic food gardening, running hands-on practical training courses in impoverished communities so that families can grow their own healthy food all year around. SFL provides ongoing support and advice to the home food gardeners. Alshaun won the Home Gardener of the Year in 2014; he now makes his own compost, some of which is sold at SFL’s Resource Centre in Constantia, grows organic vegetables and he is planning to open a nursery too. He makes beautiful up-cycled pots and planter boxes, that can be purchased directly from him (email us if you would like to make contact).

 

Alshaun in his garden in Steenberg @David Peter Harris.

Alshaun in his home vegetable garden in Steenberg, Cape Town @David Peter Harris

 

SFL is running the fourth edition of the annual Eat for the Earth Campaign. During the month of June, anyone can register for a meal, receive tips for growing and preparing wholesome food, and host a  meal where you and your friends can share delicious food, and donate resources to SFL. and trains people in

 

Host a fundraising meal, or get in touch with Soil For Life via their website.

 

Change Makers | Coffeebeans Routes

Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director of Coffeebeans Routes at its Headquarters, Cape Town Creative Emporium ©David Peter Harris

Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director of Coffeebeans Routes at its Headquarters, Cape Town Creative Emporium ©David Peter Harris

 

Coffeebeans Routes, gold winner in the category Best for Engaging People and Culture in the African Responsible Tourism Awards, is a cultural tour operator  that provides collections of stories. “When it comes to stories, we are the most equal, but they also provide ground to turn the tables on traditional assumptions  – Coffeebeans Routes is the connection between disempowered communities that are excited to share their stories, and international and local travellers hungry for narratives”, Iain Harris, Founder and Creative Director, tells us when we met him at CR Headquarters, home to Cape Town Creative Emporium.

“Why do I believe what I do makes a difference to the world? I get to hear stories that open my world in amazing ways, I feel very privileged to have this access. There is a financial benefit to it, as Coffebeans Routes offers a formalized structure with remuneration for the storytellers that values stories above everything else. There is a cultural element to it too; coming out of an economy of silence, the audience is interested, and  has warm welcoming ears  to stories in an environment where people are not usually listened to. What comes out of it is not only a financial benefit for the story tellers, but great affirmation, and this is shown by the terrific response we get from them [story tellers].”

Golden Team: Iain Harris, Natasha Moses and Kabelo Michael Letlala ©David Peter Harris

Golden Team: Iain Harris, Natasha Moses and Kabelo Michael Letlala ©David Peter Harris

“There is no sustainability without social justice. No matter what green interventions we put in place, they will not work unless society becomes socially and culturally equal. The starting point is asking yourself “How do we treat each other?”. This is also an angle that makes you see things differently, why people act the way they do. If your work is geared towards challenging and undoing inequalities through your business ethos, then you’re at a good point. After that we can look at practical interventions, like recycling and reducing. They can happen in parallel, but the one can’t happen without the other. “

Coffeebeans Routes has teamed up with Africa is a Country to present a concert series in Cape Town on the last Thursday of every month, kicking off on June 25th 2015 with Loit Sols & Churchill Naude. If you are not in the area, tune in to Africa is a Country where concerts will be live streamed. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover some of the most precious musical gems in the Mother City.

Read more on Coffeebeans Routes, make contact and book a tour via their Eco Atlas page.