The project was catalysed through an engagement between Dr Gerard Filies and Errica Adams Berger, the foundation's Founder and President. Adams Berger has a profound love for nature and she is always looking to honour the sustainable practices of Southern Africa’s indigenous communities.
During a recent business trip to Franschhoek, Adams Berger was exploring entrepreneurial opportunities for local women who manufacture craft bags. Dr Filies recommended a visit to Tembaletu Protective Workshop (TPW) in Gugulethu, a site he had previously identified as an excellent placement opportunity for UWC students.
Founded in 1976, TPW (Tembaletu meaning "our hope") serves as a nurturing environment for individuals with disabilities, focusing on both vocational training and holistic development.
Upon arrival, they met Thembile Gcukumeni, who is TPW’s new project manager and a former baker. Gcukumeni shared his ambitious plans for the workshop, which include opening a coffee shop, bakery, and an accessible food garden designed for wheelchair users. The visit inspired the Khoi-San-E Foundation so much it pledged to sponsor plants to kickstart the gardening project.
The Cape Flats Nature Reserve Unit at UWC, which regularly has plant sales, also came on board. They provided additional plants and agreed to conduct training sessions to ensure the TPW members became self-sufficient. The official launch of the gardening project took place on 25 June 2024, when stakeholders gathered to begin planting.
Members of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve Unit at UWC arrived with plants, gardening tools and visual aids to demonstrate proper planting techniques. Adams Berger traveled from Germany, joined by other Khoi-San-E members from Johannesburg and Ceres, to lend their support. They also introduced a worm farming initiative to create natural compost for the garden, donating a handmade worm farm kit to TPW.
In a further show of community support, Brights Hardware in Brackengate donated a truckload of wood pellets to create raised flower beds, enabling individuals in wheelchairs to participate in gardening. Dr Filies arranged with a carpenter from Kuils River to construct the beds, and this process is still underway.
Anyone interested in contributing to this meaningful project can contact Thembile Gcukumeni at TPW via email at: thembalethuworkshop7750@gmail.com
This initiative not only fosters community engagement but also promotes sustainable living practices, embodying the spirit of collaboration and empowerment at the heart of UWC's values.
