A group of Stellenbosch University (SU) students recently started a sustainable agriculture project at a school in Kayamandi, in an attempt to reduce inequalities. This is according to Kaiden Jacobs, a postgraduate student completing his PGDip in Agronomy at SU’s AgriSciences faculty.
“Our project is to work with Kayamandi High School, because they already have agriculture as a subject, and just try to fill the gaps and give them exposure to the industry,” said Jacobs.
The project involves helping to fix minor structural issues and install footbaths in Kayamandi High School’s own greenhouses, which are important for keeping pests out of the greenhouses, according to Yolani Furunek, the teacher of agricultural management practices at Kayamandi High School.
One of two greenhouses at Kayamandi High School, where learners in the subject of agricultural management practices grow a variety of vegetables, including cabbage, spinach, and potatoes. This is according to Yolani Furunek, the agricultural management practices teacher at the school. Furunek said that the vegetables get sold to teachers and parents to be able to buy fertilisers and anything else the learners might need. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
According to Jacobs, the project is part of SU’s Listen, Live, and Learn (LLL) leadership development program for student leaders, which aims to help foster a sense of community and help students become more engaged citizens by tackling a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
Senior SU students or students in a leadership position can apply for the LLL leadership development program and, once accepted, get placed in various student accommodation houses and must work together on a project with an SDG in mind, said Jacobs.
The grade 12 agricultural management practices learners at Kayamandi High School were assisted in applying for programmes to study at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute on 8 May, said Mpumelelo Somtsewu, lecturer at Elsenburg. PHOTO: Supplied/Kaiden Jacobs
Extra lessons in agriculture
Jacobs said that their project also involves providing extra lessons in agriculture and performing practical activities with the learners to expose them to what the industry is like.
The group went to introduce themselves to the grade 12 agricultural management practices class on 8 May to tell them more about the project, according to Jacobs.
“[The idea for the project] came down to three things, which [were] agriculture, education, and empowerment,” said Ailly Nuuyoma, a fourth-year LLB student involved with the project.
Agricultural management practices was first introduced as a subject in 2021 with just one grade 10 class, said Yolani Furunek, a teacher at the school. They now offer the subject from grade 10 to 12, with 26 learners in her matric class, said Furunek. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
The grade 12 agricultural management practices learners were also assisted in applying for programmes to study at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute on 8 May, according to Mpumelelo Somtsewu, a lecturer at Elsenburg.
“It’s essential for Kayamandi High School learners to know about Elsenburg College’s offerings,” said Somtsewu. “By pursuing agriculture, learners can gain soft skills to contribute to local food security challenges, sustainable practices, and economic development.”
Furunek said that she is hoping her learners will draw inspiration from the project and get exposure to see the business behind the subject.
“I [currently] have 26 learners doing agricultural management practices in grade 12,” said Furunek.
Yolani Furunek, agricultural management practices teacher at Kayamandi High School, is hoping the sustainable agriculture project will inspire her learners to see what is possible for them in the agricultural industry. She is also proud to report that everyone has passed the subject since 2021. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
The first activity planned for the learners is to take them to Welgevallen Experimental Farm on 15 May, said Jacobs.
“We want to show the [learners] the commercial greenhouse and show them the different systems available,” said Jacobs. “We get to help [the learners] actualise their dreams and goals they have set out for themselves by bringing them to the industry and showing what is outside the confines of their school.”