The partnership between the Modern Community Foundation (MC Foundation) and the Shumela Hayani non-profit organisation is gradually yielding the intended results, as 20 youths from Musina, including people living with disabilities, are starting to derive an income from the partnership.
Established in 2022 by the MC Foundation, a Johannesburg-based organisation, Shumela Hayani is now training youths in agriculture. The 20 youths are growing various fruits and vegetables on a 10-hectare piece of land near Campbell township, in the Musina Municipality.
According to Revel Harris, managing director of MC Foundation, a need to partner with the Shumela Hayani organisation existed as the youth in Musina were not actively involved in any activities that could earn them a living. Though they have enough land, the organisation still needs farming tools to enhance production and transport to deliver their harvest to the market.
Speaking to Limpopo Mirror, Annah Maphaha, Shumela Hayani's project coordinator, said the 20 youths worked as a group and sold the products to a big food retailer, local street vendors, and ordinary Musina residents. "The business is running very well. We hope to produce more, so that our market grows," said Maphaha.
Karabo Mukhuwa, one of the beneficiaries, said that the project had come at the right time. "I completed my diploma in marketing studies in 2020 and struggled to support my two children as I had only the child grant to support them. In 2022, I joined the Shumela Hayani NPO. Now I can put my marketing skills to use."