14/10/2026
NTABENI CLINIC CHWs LEAD THE WAY IN FIGHTING HUNGER AND POVERTY
In an effort to address hunger and poverty in the community, Community Health Workers (CHWs) from KwaNzimakwe, under Ntabeni Clinic, came together in 2024 to establish a community gardening project. The initiative was launched with the vision of empowering community members with practical gardening skills to improve their livelihoods and promote healthier lifestyles.
The project is guided by the principle of “One House, One Garden,” which encourages every household to establish and maintain a vegetable garden. Through this initiative, community members are taught how to grow their own vegetables, make better use of available land, and produce fresh, nutritious food for their families.
The gardening project aims to reduce household food insecurity and poverty while promoting healthy eating habits. By growing their own vegetables, families can reduce their food expenses and improve access to nutritious meals. This is particularly important for households experiencing financial difficulties.
In addition to improving household nutrition, the project provides community members with opportunities to develop valuable gardening skills. These skills can be used to establish their own gardens, share knowledge with others, and create income-generating opportunities. Households can sell surplus vegetables to community members and use the income earned to meet other family needs.
The involvement of CHWs demonstrates their commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve. Their role extends beyond providing health education and support, as they also encourage practical initiatives that address the social factors affecting people's health, including poverty, hunger, and limited access to nutritious food.
Since its establishment in 2024, the KwaNzimakwe gardening project has represented an important step towards building a self-reliant and empowered community. Through teamwork, knowledge-sharing, and active community participation, the initiative promotes the understanding that sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty can begin at household level.
The project encourages every household to take responsibility for its own food production while contributing to the broader goal of community development.
Ntabeni Clinic Operational Manager, Ms Bongiwe Mathonsi, said the garden aims to encourage community participation, promote self-reliance, and improve the overall health and well-being of community members.
She further emphasised the importance of having access to food, particularly for patients receiving medical treatment. She explained that patients who do not have food benefit greatly from the garden, as it helps address their immediate nutritional needs. She highlighted that patients need food to support their health and well-being while taking their medication.
Through the dedication and commitment of the CHWs from KwaNzimakwe under Ntabeni Clinic, gardening has become more than just planting vegetables. It is about growing hope, improving lives, promoting healthier families, and creating a better future for the community.
The message is simple: One house, one garden, healthier families, reduced hunger, and a stronger community.
