Nature always wears the colour of the spirit

Champions of the Environment Foundation (Champions) is effective in rural areas working with traditional leaders (Chiefs) and Headmen who are able to bring immediate relief to the community.  Assisting people who are often last in the supply chain to receive goods and services.  To date we have brought assistance to approximately 31 institutions including clinics, hospitals, and centres of care in the Eastern Cape.  As the schools reopen in the winter months and the restrictions are eased, social distancing, hygiene and nutrition takes on a new importance not only to the vulnerable but learners, teachers, and all admin staff.

Champions is actively involved in distributing food parcels and PPE in addition to raising funds on a continuous basis.  However, this practise is unsustainable post COVID-19. Our mandate is to create capacity for sustainable food, water, and energy security, especially in under-resourced provinces.  Due to the extreme need for food security, vulnerable areas in Gauteng have been added to the list.  The initial area of emphasis is partnering and training youth activists in permaculture and plant propagation.  We are confident that in the medium-term this strategy will advance constructive behaviour towards the health and nutrition of local communities.  Especially women and children.

1. Overall project aim – ensuring environmental sustainability via skills transfer and education

Considering the importance of food security in South Africa, it is a priority to raise the populations levels of nutrition. Encouraging young mothers (18-35 years) with children (3-6 years) to take part in planting, growing, and harvesting enough healthy and nourishing food, to meet their personal dietary needs and preferences for an active healthy life.  Knowledge is transferred to the child, mother and grandmother by practical learning and executing the following tasks; 

2. Outcome – lesson and reward process

Champions believes that appreciation of nature often starts when people have a chance to see things grow.  Stimulating interest, dreams, and career opportunities such as environmental management, photography, nutrition, tourism, organic markets, landscaping etc.  As a community project, the mothers take part in working and coordinating the vegetable gardens on a voluntary basis. They are rewarded by knowledge sharing, skills transfer, fresh vegetables and fruit and the opportunity for self-improvement. The young mother is able to obtain additional opportunities for herself and her family in the safety of her community. 

3. Project impact

Emphasis is on people as the key role players, reducing poverty, transferring skills, environmental education and providing lifestyles and facilities in harmony with the natural habitat.  This project has the potential to contribute to significant job creation and economic growth. Promoting the green economy and manifesting a dignified life for all people, especially in underdeveloped rural areas. Prioritising aspects of the National Development Plan (NDP) includes addressing climate change via adaptation.  Meeting South Africa food, and water security, transitioning to a low carbon economy, mobilising renewable energy opportunities, hence reducing South Africa’s carbon footprint.

1. Vulnerable communities

Creating a sustainable impact on the most vulnerable people in South Africa i.e. single mothers with children, grandmothers who care for the family, and impoverished unemployed breadwinners of families suffering in situations beyond their control.  Hopefully in the near future creating independent communities who decide not to experience the undignified action of begging, standing in queues for hours and the disappointment of being the first in line to hear the dreaded words “the food is finished we will try and come back another time for you”.  Post COVID-19 food security demands for our children and fellow South Africans will become an imperative as people who have lived through the pandemic will be angry and frustrated.