HERD - Community Development Project

The community nutrition project has made big leaps since it was initially started at the end of 2021. For 2022 we have partnered with NTT Toyota Hoedspruit who agreed to sponsor half of the Nkosi Bars required for the Grade R group of 2022, giving approximately 170 pupils in this group access to benefits of the Nkosi Bar.

Going into 2023 we are growing this valuable project even further. We will be following the Grade R class of 2022 into the new year by continuing their journey with them into Grade 1 and supplying Nkosi Bars to them for the entire year of 2023. Although this is exciting to follow these pupils going forward, it brings us great joy to add the next group of Grade R pupils, the class of 2023! We are therefore expanding the Nkosi Bar project to now include approximately 340 pupils in 2023, up from 170 pupils in 2022! HERD is extremely excited to grow this community project through this valuable cooperation with the Mpisi Primary School.

Meaning that throughout 2023 a total of roughly 42 000 Nkosi Bars will be consumed as part of this project!

Building on the success of the Nkosi Bar project, we have started with the first phase of the community vegetable garden.

Approximately 100 old vehicle tyres were used to build a raised bed mixed use vegetable garden for the school’s benefit. Old tyres in South-Africa does not have an end-of-life plan and often ends up in landfills and water supplies. Turning these tyres into something useful gives these items a positive purpose and breath of life. Tyres being all black by default does not encourage school pupils to visit and utilize the garden, therefore we have painted the tyres using bright and colorful paints that will stand the test of time. We have given our team on the ground creative freedom to express themselves when decorating the tyres. They took to the task with great enthusiasm and created a colorful and creative display that will no doubt be used by the school.

Planting of seedlings will commence in January of 2023 as there won’t be anyone to tend to the seedlings as the schools close for the festive season. After the first phase of the vegetable garden has been completed, two more phases of similar size can be completed with the available space. Taking even more tyres out of burning landfills and turning them into colorful value adding structures. As construction of the school commences, more space will be made available for the construction of used tyre playgrounds in place of empty barren soil. Through this project it is possible to remove more than 500 tyres from landfills!

HERD alongside all its partners have managed to start a project that genuinely adds value to the community it serves. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed, big and small, to ensure that this project was made possible. We hope to turn 2023 into an even more meaningful year.

Warm Regards

Adine and The HERD Team