Grade 6 to 7 learners reaping harvest – Ukhanyo Primary School
School gardens can do more than grow food — they can shape how young people understand and care for the environment around them. In communities where access to fresh produce is limited, they also become practical spaces for learning, nutrition, and shared responsibility. At Ukhanyo Primary School and Masiphumelele High School, the Garden Champions Programme is bringing this to life, with both schools actively growing their food gardens.
Hosted by Masi Creative Hub in partnership with the two schools, Urban Harvest, MasiSports+, the Southern Africa Food Lab, and Carbon Calculated, the programme mainly works with Grade 6 to 8 learners across both schools. Through hands-on sessions, learners are introduced to planting, composting, and organic growing methods using simple, low-cost materials.
What stands out is how the gardens help learners connect with the environment in a real, practical way. They’re learning about soil health, water use, and how to reuse organic waste through composting—small actions that build awareness around sustainability and caring for natural resources.
At the same time, the gardens are spaces where learners take ownership. They work together to care for crops like spinach, cabbage, and tomatoes, seeing firsthand how consistency and care lead to growth. Currently, 50 learners across both schools participate in the programme as Garden Champions.
The impact is already visible. Produce supports the school feeding programmes, and learners take vegetables home when there’s extra. Even more encouraging is how this learning is extending into the community, with learners starting their own gardens at home.
As Nikiwe Ntsendwana, Sports Co-ordinator at Masiphumelele High School, reflected: “I didn’t realise agriculture could be a career path. Now I see how growing food can help you provide for your family.”
Through the programme, learners aren’t just growing food. They’re also building environmental awareness, responsibility, and a stronger connection to their community.
Grade 8 learners caring for gardens – Masiphumelele High School