Christina Kaba, aged 75, is an inspiration to the world. Her unwavering dedication to community-driven initiatives and her passion for vegetable farming have transformed impoverished areas in Cape Town. Through her hard work and perseverance, she has established and promoted thriving vegetable gardens throughout the Western Cape, providing much-needed sustenance and support to those in need.
Kaba’s journey began when she worked for Jonga Abalimi, a non-governmental organization (NGO), for 38 years. In 2014, after retiring from this role, she founded Umoya weKhaya Peace Garden Cooperative, an NGO that aims to teach locals how to cultivate their own food, sell the produce to support themselves, and uplift the community by running a soup kitchen that uses surplus vegetables. The cooperative produces a wide variety of hydroponic and open-air vegetables and herbs, such as green peppers, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, and oyster mushrooms, among others.
The harvest serves multiple purposes, being sold, shared among members, and donated to various charities. Kaba’s innovative vision has extended beyond agriculture, as she has also set up a childcare park to provide a safe and secure environment for children.
Over the years, Kaba’s hard work and dedication have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Department of Agriculture National Female Micro-Farming Entrepreneur Award in 2015, the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International via Constantia Rotary Club in 2014, and the Nestlé Community Nutrition Award in 2002. Yet, her achievements are not limited to accolades; Kaba has taken her projects one step further, acquiring land to expand her initiatives and build a children’s park.
To further advance her cause, Kaba’s NGO has received R251,200 in funding from the National Development Agency (NDA) to cultivate oyster mushrooms. The NDA is an agency of the Department of Social Development that seeks to empower civil society organizations. Upon realizing that her initiative often generated a surplus of produce, Kaba decided to establish a soup kitchen. This daily operation indirectly feeds up to 5,000 people at 20 sites in the Western Cape through a partnership with the Community Nutrition Development Centre (CNDC) and Ilitha la Bantu. CNDCs are government-operated food distribution centers implemented in 2016 to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable and food-insecure individuals.
Kaba’s work embodies the spirit of ubuntu, a concept emphasizing humanity and compassion, which was championed by South Africa’s first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela. Drawing strength from her own humble origins, Kaba remains committed to helping impoverished communities, driven by Mandela’s message of peace and unity.
Christina Kaba’s unwavering dedication to uplifting her community serves as an inspirational reminder of the profound difference one person can make. Her story, captured in the thriving gardens she has nurtured, reveals the transformative power of perseverance, vision, and a deep sense of compassion.
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