Five Schools Gifted Vegetable Gardens Thanks to Absa Run Your City Series

In just two years, Absa raised nearly R5-million, which has been invested in creating vegetable gardens in schools across South Africa, and they will continue for 2025.

 

South Africa (11 March 2025) – When you walked or ran for Team Absa on Strava in 2023, we bet you never imagined your efforts would add up to R1.5 million! Well, collectively, it has, and that money has been used to make a meaningful difference at five schools in South Africa.

In 2023, Absa Bank unveiled its campaign, aptly named “Together we can do more, Siyabangena”, which encouraged employees, customers and community members to join Team Absa on Strava, an exercise-tracking service, to collectively exercise and raise funds for charity.

The Bank generously pledged a donation of R1 for every kilometre collected by the team, reinforcing its commitment to making a meaningful impact in the community. In doing this, R1.5 million was raised.

The money raised was used to install vegetable gardens designed to aid schools and their surrounding communities. The gardens include raised beds, drip irrigation, shade netting, and some of the staple vegetables that grow well in South Africa. Urban Harvest assisted in equipping the schools with training skills and all the tools needed to grow a range of herbs and vegetables.

The selected beneficiaries were Mautse Primary School in Rosendal, Free State; Ndunakazi Primary School in KwaXimba, KwaZulu-Natal; Strelitzia Primary School in Bethelsdorp, Eastern Cape; Ennis Thabong Primary School in Hartbeespoort, North West; and Northern Cape Agricultural High School in the Northern Cape.

“We are delighted to have raised R1.5 million through the 2023 series, which will now be used to provide sustainable solutions and contribute towards the growth and development of young learners across the country. We know these gardens will immeasurably change the lives of thousands of community members in the long term, one school at a time.” – Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Head of Sponsorships at Absa

We got the chance to speak to each of the school representatives, learning what the installation meant to them and what their hopes for the future were.

Ennis Thabong Primary School, Hartbeespoort – North West.

Mme Tiny Nkadimeng, the principal, shared that everyone at the school is eager to get their hands in the dirt. Every grade has approached her, including the teachers, asking when they can have a turn in the gardening club, which is now a popular part of schooling.

Many of the children have been able to learn about new plants and flavours, giving them the tools needed to take the knowledge home, where they can further implement their skills and foster a space of food security beyond the school gardens.

The excitement to get involved has been great and has even led to monthly workshops for the community in the open-air classroom designed to empower students and kitchen staff with knowledge and skills. The garden serves as a community hub, fostering connections and friendships.

Speaking to Sikhosiphi Zulu, the Absa Regional Manager of Physical Channels in the North-West, we learned what the project meant to the team as well.

“My favourite aspect of this project is giving hope to the rural community and schools by working with children to equip them with these important skills. Who knows, maybe these kids from Ennis Thabong Primary School will go on to become prosperous farmers in the future.

The kids had a great time getting their hands dirty and it was an honour working together with them planting those seeds that will change their lives and ensure that they don’t go to bed with an empty stomach.”

Since the garden’s installation, the school has hosted regular workshops for the community, students and kitchen staff. Absa shared the update and their pride at seeing the drive to have the gardens be a success.

“Our monthly visits to the Ennis Thabong school always leave us feeling inspired; to witness the joy the food gardens bring to the community… One of our key initiatives was establishing a garden club, which allowed us to directly engage with the students, of all ages, and this gave us a much deeper understanding of the benefits and value the gardens bring beyond just providing a bounty of food.

We provided the learners with the knowledge and seeds to plant their own gardens, and it was heartwarming to witness their joy of seeing their seedlings grow, along with their eagerness for caring for their plants.” – Absa

Ndunakazi Primary School, KwaXimba – KwaZulu-Natal.

The school is based in KwaZulu-Natal, and we got to speak to Mrs S Luthuli, who runs the school and the exciting garden, thanks to Absa. Mrs Luthuli shared that the school students and teachers loved the opportunity to access a garden and have a boost in food security.

Mrs Luthuli shared that even the parents have gotten involved to boost food security beyond the school garden. They planted lettuce and spinach to use in their homes.

She thanked Absa for the investment made at the school, saying it has changed the school for the better. Being so rural, the hope is this will further the efforts within the feeding programme at the school.

Speaking to Mandisa Buthelezi, Regional Manager of Physical Channels in KwaZulu Natal, we learned what the project meant to the team as well.

“The community that we engaged on the day was excited and applauded Absa for taking the time to donate the garden to the community. One of the teachers said it was the 1st time that she had seen a financial institution going to the rural community to donate and help the community to have sustainable food that they can enjoy all seasons.”

Mandisa shared his favourite part of the project, saying he enjoyed the planting!

“I really enjoyed planting and going on the garden walkabout. We learned about the different types of produce to understand how plants work before they are consumed. The day was filled with excitement, music and lots of learning for the children. The children enjoyed the garden and committed to work on it daily.”

Since the installation, Absa has been back to check on the school and the progress of the garden, and the team is happy to report a thriving space!

“Students have embraced the garden with passion and dedication, working closely with their “garden champion,” a remarkable individual who has led them in cleaning and expanding the garden space far beyond initial expectations. The entire fenced area is now planted with a rich variety of seasonal crops, including pumpkins, butternut, maize, calabash, peanuts, and sweet potatoes.

Fruit trees in the garden are thriving, and herbs like lemongrass are used for medicinal teas, providing a natural health resource in an area where access to doctors is limited. The school kitchen utilizes the fresh vegetables harvested, and excess produce is sold to community members, with the support helping to sustain multiple families in the region.” – Absa

Strelitzia Primary School in Bethelsdorp, Eastern Cape.

Mr Jantjies of Strelitzia Primary shared that the garden has made a massive impact at the school. What started as a parent, Oom  Neville, trying to cover school fees by planting food, caught the attention of various stakeholders, and that was when Absa stepped in to support the project and take the garden to the next level.

They feel blessed to have received such a beautiful garden. Parents like to spend their time walking through the garden while waiting to collect their children. Mr Jantjies shared that it has become a place of calm and tranquillity for the community.

Speaking to Andy de la Mare, Regional Manager External Sales at Absa, Eastern and Southern Cape, we learned what the project meant to the team as well. They loved working with the children and getting their hands dirty.

“It has been great to see how educators, learners, and members of the surrounding community have become involved in the garden”

“The highlight has been meeting the various role-players and seeing their passion for development. In addition, from inspiring teachers, I have met some remarkable volunteers from the area.”

Absa reports that the garden now supplies the school’s feeding scheme with the most nutrient-dense and beautiful foods. Visiting the garden since it was established brings the team great joy.

“Strelitzia Primary School’s comprehensive feeding scheme utilizes fresh produce from the garden. The garden champions harvest daily, and the school explores methods to preserve food during holidays, involving the local community and fostering a shared sense of purpose.

Oom Neville is an inspiration who is always dedicated to attend to the garden and is regularly harving for the kitchen. He ensures learners are brought through the garden regularly and along with our team keeps the garden thriving, beautiful and productive

We have just done a mega harvest of the last of the autumn crops and are currently planting summer crops like pumpkin, gem squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and more.” – Absa

Mautse Primary School, Rosendal – Free State.

The school is based in the Free State, which can sometimes face tough weather conditions, but the entire school has been eager to get involved in this new project. We got the chance to speak to Mr CBS Nkomo, the principal at Mautse Primary School, about the garden, and he could not contain his excitement. He explained that it was a huge asset for the school, helping provide a much-needed fresh-food resource.

When speaking to Mr Nkomo, he shared his hopes for the garden’s future; once it is established, he envisions the space being enlarged to cater to the community, too, giving the learners a way to give back.

“Our intention is that [the garden] should not only benefit the learners, it should also benefit the community members that are not well off”

“We are looking forward to being of great help to the community” – Mr CBS Nkomo, principal at Mautse Primary School.

Absa shared a heartwarming update about the success of the garden since its installation, saying:

“The Mautse School Garden has emerged as a transformative initiative, positively impacting both Mautse Primary School and the wider Mautse community. The garden has catalyzed important conversations among community members about the critical need for food security.

The school’s efforts have even culminated in notable accolades and a win for Mautse Primary School in a district school competition, an achievement that both teachers and parents attribute directly to the garden’s success. The recognition underscores the garden’s role as an educational tool, fostering not just agricultural skills but also teamwork and pride within the school community and Mautse Community.

Mr. Nkomo, the school principal, expressed pride in the school’s accomplishments. He noted that the Dihlabeng Department of Education has commended Mautse Primary School for its exemplary approach to education, positioning it as a role model for other schools across the Dihlabeng District. This recognition further solidifies the garden’s reputation as a beacon of hope and innovation in the region.” – Absa

Since its successful installation, the school has won a National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) “Best School Award” for outstanding achievement in the NSNP competition within Thabo Mofutsanyane Education District.  

Northern Cape Agricultural High School, Jan Kempdorp – Northern Cape

The agricultural school is based in the Northern Cape. While the students are adept at growing vegetables, their practical gardens are a walk away from campus. Having a garden installed in the centre of the school became an exciting motivation for all the students.

We spoke to Mr Sammy Ndluzela about how the students felt getting a garden of their own. He shared that it definitely added some excitement to the school’s energy. Having Absa invest in their space was a huge deal. We also asked how the staff felt about the installation, and Mr Ndluzela shared that they were eager to see the garden grow.

Many were exposed to new varieties of greens, and kale has become a firm favourite amongst the teachers.

Branda Crew, Northern Cape Regional Manager, Physical Channels, shared how the local Absa team felt handing over the garden to the school.

“This project was well received by the learners, school staff, and school governing body. We explained how this project is meant to impact the community at large and support the school nutrition programme. More than anything, the community was excited about the garden as they realised the school would also have an opportunity to supply food to orphanages and old-age homes. Everyone was happy that their school was the chosen school in the Northern Cape province.”

Speaking about what the team hopes for the future of the garden, Branda shared:

“The greatest thing about this project is that it is inclusive of everyone. This project is going to teach the learners some survival skills and impart responsibility to them as they need to look after the garden. Looking after the garden will keep them away from the streets where they could be exposed to mischief.”

In closing the year, the Absa team are excited to report that the gardens at the agri-school will be maintained throughout the school holidays, adding even more of a boost to the already thriving gardens and it means when the students arrive next year, they will have a harvest ready and waiting!

“Students actively engage in garden maintenance, taking home fresh produce to benefit their families. This hands-on experience fosters a sense of community and practical skills in gardening.

The awesome Champion Sammy and his group of learners are very hands on and work hard in the garden. They have recently harvested most of the remaining winter and Autumn crops; weeded pathways and beds and planted their own seedlings.” – Absa

A little dirt goes a long way, and these five schools have made great progress since the gardens were installed earlier this year. We are so happy to report on a year of growth, and it’s only just beginning.

Once again, all this is thanks to every individual and team participating in the Absa Run Your City Series. What was a physical challenge for you has become 1.5 million moments of nutrition and change for the young minds of South Africa.

“Thank you to everyone who participated and joined the force-for-good movement last year. Whether you ran or walked, your kilometres count and have helped us reach this milestone. Through everyone’s collective efforts, we are delivering on our promise of empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together … one story at a time,”  Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Head of Sponsorships at Absa, ends.

To get involved with the Absa Run Your City Series, visit RunYourCitySeries.com.

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Sources: GTG Interviews / Absa

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