HUMANSDORP – A collaborative effort between Jeffreys Bay’s Dorp van Drome organisation and the Co-Op Community Trust in Humansdorp has successfully transformed a neglected garden area at Lungiso Public High School into an attractive indigenous plant display that organisers hope will inspire lasting change in the school community.
Sipho Miggels serves as the convener of the Lungiso High Task Team, an initiative established to intervene and support efforts aimed at improving the learning and teaching situation at Lungiso Public High School.
Additional task team members include Dr Nontsikelelo Majola, Thobeka Mtuyedwa, Thanduxolo Spire, Noxolo Thomas and Lindile Matsobongwana (School Principal).
Approximately one month ago, Miggels approached Loulita Vosloo, a long-standing member of Dorp van Drome, to advance the project’s objectives.
Miggels said that he previously saw Vosloo and her team creating and maintaining gardens in various places and institutions.
“I would sometimes just stand and marvel at them making an immediate difference,” said Miggels.
“They would instantly transform an ugly garden into a beautiful and attractive paradise with beautifully arranged flowering plants.”
Miggels said that Lungiso Public High School previously had a thriving garden, but since it was terribly neglected, it fell into disrepair over the years.
“There was a garden, but it was not well maintained,” said Miggels.
“The animals, like goats, also ate all the beautiful succulent plants when the gates of the school were left open.”
Miggels emphasised that improving the school’s appearance was a priority for the task team.
“The first task was to improve the appearance of the school and ensure that the entrance is appealing and attractive,” said Miggels.
Through the project, he said that he hopes the staff, learners and parents would develop a sense of pride in the school.
“The garden would hopefully affect their attitude towards maintaining the school grounds. We hope they will take turns to maintain the garden and stop littering all over the school grounds,” said Miggels.
He further said that they are also planning to join hands with a group of women who have started a vegetable garden at the school.
“Through this initiative, they intend to grow vegetables to put food on the table for their families and also sell the surplus to the community. They would also supply the school nutrition programme with fresh, nutritious and organic vegetables for the learners to enjoy,” said Miggels.
He said that the school is also appreciative of the assistance received from the Kouga Windfarm (KWF) and Kouga Windfarm Community Development Trust (KWFCDT), who have supported various school projects.
Meanwhile, the garden transformation involved several key partners working together.
Lunga Mlangeni from the Humansdorp Co-Op provided plant donations, while Andile Ngcingolo from the Panorama Nursery contributed his expertise and labour.
Ngcingolo explained that the Co-Op Community Trust, in partnership with the Kouga Municipality Environment Department and Dorp van Drome, have joined hands in the propagation of indigenous trees and plants.
“As part of the project, we spent a week removing dead plants and working on fertilising the soil. Dorp van Drome and Co-Op provided plants and inputs needed for the project,” said Ngcingolo.
He further said that his vision for the garden is that it will contribute to the community, boost academic performance and encourage healthy eating habits.
To support the garden’s water needs, infrastructure improvements are being made.
Vosloo said that she plans to purchase a PVC pipe to extend the gutter to the water tank so that the water tank can fill up.
While the transformation has been successful, Vosloo emphasised that continued support depends on the school community’s commitment to maintenance.
“We will follow up to see how the school maintains the garden, and then in the near future, we can always help them again,” said Vosloo.
Though they were happy to assist the school, she said that they do not have the capacity to get involved with other projects in Humansdorp on a regular basis.
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