Nageng Primary's Young Farmers are Growing Food, Skills, and Community!

Photo Credit: The Gauteng Department of Education

Little seeds are growing big dreams at Nageng Primary School in Vosloorus! A group of learners has transformed their school grounds into a thriving vegetable garden, which is not only promoting sustainability but also feeding their peers in need and equipping these agricultural champions with future-ready skills to succeed in the urban farming, gardening, and entrepreneurship space.

Vosloorus, South Africa (22 June 2025) – From as young as learners in grade three, a dynamic group of learners of Nageng Primary School in Vosloorus has transformed a simple plot into a flourishing vegetable garden, now a cornerstone of their school community.

Now in Grade 6, these youngsters have grown into quite the farmers who have together cultivated an impressive array of produce, including cabbage, kale, spinach, beetroot, spring onion, onion, mustard spinach, and even strawberries!

As part of the Gauteng Department of Education’s Sprouting Entrepreneurs programme, all this school-grown goodness is sold at the school to promote self-sustainability, donated to learners in need every Friday and used in the school kitchen to support the School Nutrition Programme.

More than just a garden, this project is part of the GDE’s Multi-Certification Skills Programme (MCSP), a pioneering initiative that will see learners certified in urban farming, gardening, and entrepreneurship.

From the soil preparation processes to the selling of their harvest, the experiences gained by these young farming enthusiasts are impressively empowering them with practical, future-ready skills while fostering a deep sense of social responsibility. And the wholesome part? The school kitchen remains well-stocked, and learners in need have food to take home.

“We are incredibly proud of these young agricultural champions and call on community members, local businesses, and partners to help take this initiative to new heights by donating tools, resources, or gardening materials,” the Gauteng Education Department said.