Initiatives of The Grootbos Foundation

The 2006 fire on Grootbos destroyed not only Forest Lodge but also a large area of the ancient milkwood forest behind the lodge. The fire struck the forest at midday, having burnt for more than a week under extremely hot and dry conditions. The result was that a large portion of the forest, including many ancient trees were destroyed by the fire.

The Future Trees Project aims to rehabilitate this area as well as other forest areas on Grootbos that have been impacted by human activities in the past. Early aerial photographs have provided a clear indication of changes to the forest edges as a result of human impacts, primarily wood cutting and exotic tree invasions over the last eighty years.  Green Futures is a program that combines community development and fynbos conservation.  It was created to train people from the local community who are unskilled, and provide them with training and employment in fynbos landscaping and horticulture.  As part of the program indigenous trees (white milkwood, white stinkwood, pock ironwood and wild olive) have been grown by the Green Futures students to be used for the rehabilitation of these areas. Visitors to Grootbos can support the rehabilitation of these ancient milkwood forests as well as contribute to the work of the Foundation by getting their hands dirty and planting a tree.

Inspiration

Following the success of the Green Futures model, the Grootbos Foundation has embarked on a new training project to further their commitment to developing the local community. Growing the Future is all about food production, and 8 women will be trained per year in the growing of vegetables and fruit, beekeeping and the principles of successful animal husbandry.

Subsistence farming

Subsistence farming has always been integral to many of the South African cultures, but in recent years, as people have moved from away from the Western Cape to the cities,  in search of work, these skills have started to lapse. For this reason the Foundation has decided to give Growing the Future a commercial edge, showing how people can provide food, as well as generate income. For example, strawberries can be eaten, but when they are made into jam they can be sold for a profit. It is important to us that the women have some exposure to, and learn the principles behind successful business. This will form a large part of the life skills component of the course, which will also include computer literacy, health education, numeracy and English.

Skills Obtained

The skills that these women learn can be applied in many ways; on a small piece of land in the township, each could grow enough vegetables to feed her family; through some form of co-operative land use, the graduates could grow produce on a commercial level; and if they were to return to their homelands, the arable soils there could provide the income that forces many of the young people in the rural areas to migrate to the cities in the first place.

To give the course recognition, we will follow the ABET guidelines, and graduates will receive a level 4 ABET qualification. This has two advantages; one being that graduates will be a cut above in the employment market, and secondly that the women can continue their education at any ABET centre nationwide if they are so motivated.

For the students the course is fully subsidised, the student receive transport, tools, uniforms and all their study materials, as well as a weekly allowance to cover their living costs. From the Grootbos Foundations point of view, the project must be sustainable. To achieve this, the Foundation cannot rely purely on donations and sponsorships, but part finance the project through the sale of the produce. This is a great way in which the students also contribute towards their education through their practical work.

Spaces for Sports

Spaces for Sports is a community project aimed at giving opportunities to young people in the community so that they can more effectivley socially intergrate with their piers, and break down social barriers and to have access to professional coaching, experience improved self-esteem and keep fit.