Stellenbosch 360 cements Township ties on Madiba Day

Tuesday, 29 July, 2014
Stellenbosch 360
Mandela Day inspires tourism outfit to sow seeds of hope in Kayamandi

Inspired to make every day a Mandela Day, Stellenbosch 360, the town’s dynamic tourism outfit, reunited with Heart Capital in its ongoing efforts to create social and sustainable change in the poverty-stricken Kayamandi community, by lending some green fingers and elbow grease to its Foodpods Project.

Earlier this year, Stellenbosch 360 joined forces with Heart Capital, a boutique impact investment company based in Cape Town, by donating a Sandbag House towards the Heart Capital Foodpods Hub which was rooted in the township to establish food security for the locals in a financially sustainable way.

“This hub is an inspiring place making it possible for the locals to grow, consume and sell fresh, organic vegetables with Heart Capital providing the infrastructure, training and support they need to start and run urban-agri businesses. Stellenbosch 360’s Sandbag House will serve as a home for the security guard who keeps a beady eye over the growing greens,” says Matt Smith of Stellenbosch 360.

Honouring one of this year’s Mandela Day themes – food security – Stellenbosch 360 rolled up their sleeves and painted and beautified their donated house; assisted with the building of additional Sandbag Houses, and got their hands dirty in the urban veggie hub by planting some seedlings.

“We are inspired to grow with our local communities in building a better and caring society together. It was so heart-warming to see how the crafters from the local Centre of Entrepreneurship and volunteers all joined hands in transforming our house with beautiful African colours, depicting the vibrant township lifestyle,” shared an elated Annemarie Ferns, CEO of Stellenbosch 360.

“By reaching out to the township, we aim to make a small difference in the fight against hunger and poverty and we challenge all fellow Stellenboschers to follow in Madiba’s footsteps and live a life of ‘67 minutes’ as opposed to making it a yearly activity,” adds Ferns.

For more information regarding Stellenbosch 360 and its various community projects and initiatives visit www.stellenbosch.travel, contact Tel: 021 883 3584 or email Matt Smith at matt@stellenbosch360.co.za. Also join them on Facebook and Twitter @MyStellenbosch.