Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Bloemfontein celebrated World Food Day on Friday (21/10) with a huge celebration on its Paradys Farm next to the N6.
Andile Tembe, regional financial director, said together with partners training was given to more than 100 beneficiaries that was trained in agriculture.
Together with partners like the Motheo FET College, the Central University of Technology (CUT) and the University of the Free State (UFS) as well as the AgriSeta, community members were trained as part of the MOW’s vision to empower unemployed youth.
The idea is to give them land and to assist them by buying their produce for MOW’s 181 community kitchens.
MOW has 15 branches in the Free State with two in operation in Bloemfontein.
At the farm next to the N6 they cultivate a wide variety of vegetables.
Bruce Mashila, farm manager, say the crop will be used for MOW’s kitchens as well as sold at the market for an income.
One of the community members that benefitted from the training programme, Vusi Mirha, said he was grateful for the opportunity to improve his life.
The Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, as well as the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Thembeni Nxangisa and Director General of the Free Staat Provincial Government Kopung Ralikontsane joined the celebrations at MOW.
“I am proud of the work that Meals on Wheels do and regard them as proud parners,” Ntombela said at the event. “They are doing incredible work and must be commended for that.”
