Waiting for funding

 Lesiba Mmethi, HR Officer at Carryou Ministry

Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministries General Manager and Cecile Kirk, Chairmain of Umshini Consultants.

 People in the Vleikop area involved with the Carryou Ministries Farming Programme are eagerly waiting to hear whether an application for training, funded by Agri SETA will be approved.
 The initiative was put in place by Cecile Kirk, Chairman of Umshini Consultants, who will be organising and running the Farm Workers Training Course if approval is granted.
 "Twenty five local community members, who have already been selected, will be trained in crop production at our Vleikop farming site," says Lesiba Mmethi , Human Resources Officer at Carryou Ministry. "Of those the majority are women. Preference was given to volunteers already working on the programme, but other people will also be involved."

Feed own families

 The thirty day-long course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to grow vegetables to feed their own families and sell excess production to generate further income.
 "Depending on future funding, we may be able to employ some of the graduates permanently at the Carryou Ministry Farming Programme," says Lesiba. "In the meantime we're holding thumbs and waiting."

The first sods are turned at Vleikop

Randfontein Town Council donates seeds. (L-R) Thembi Matuwane, MMC Social Services, Brenda Mahuma, MMC Public Safety, Sylvia Thebenare, Executive Mayor, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministry General Manager, Pam and Tony Jamison, Carryou Ministry founders.

 There were scenes of joy at Carryou Ministry's Vleikop Farming project this morning when the Randfontein Municipality handed over seeds so the first crops can be planted.
 The occasion, although a day early, was part of the local Town Council's Nelson Mandela birthday celebrations and a number of dignitaries, Including Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare, were present.
 Also there were Carryou Ministry founders, Pam and Tony Jamison, as was a large number of members of the surrounding community who came to sign up for a farm-worker training programme (see the previous post).
 "It is fitting that we are here today to start a project that will provide both employment, training and food for many," said Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, "especially when we bear in mind how important planting and nurturing a seed was to Madiba. He wrote, while on Robben Island, gardening was the only thing the prisoners had control over."

Rev. Lawrence Mabaso and Umshini Consultants Chairman, Cecile Kirk

 "This is a very important project that must be taken seriously by the community," said Randfontein Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare. "We must remember this was barren land that through the efforts and support of many people will soon produce food.
 "A family of four can be fed from a piece of ground the size of a household door," she said, "so just imagine how many people these two tunnels will feed! We, as the municipality, will do everything in our power to support you."
 Cecile Kirk, Chairman of Umshini Consultants, who will be organising and running the Farm Workers Training Course, explained how it would work and what is required.
 And then, to the joy and delight of all present, the first soil-sods were turned and the first seeds were planted.

Members of the community register for the Farm Workers Training Course

The community becomes involved

A small token of appreciation was presented to Pam Jamison

Councillors Thembi Matuwane and Tshidi Kimane, join Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare and get stuck in.

An opportunity to get trained as a farm worker

There is good news for people living in the Vleikop, Dannydale area of Randfontein!
 On Thursday, 17 July 2014 at 09h00, Carryou Ministry will be holding a special event to commemorate and be part of Nelson Mandela's 67 minutes of Community Service. It will take place at Plot No 15, Acacia Avenue, Dannydale.
 "At the same time we will be looking for people interested in being part of an eight month-long farm workers' training programme," says Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso.
 "A small stipend will be paid."
 To be considered for the training programme, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have passed grade 12 or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) 
• Physically disabled people will also qualify
• All races will be accepted and welcomed
• Both young and old up to 70 years will qualify if healthy.
• People who qualify should live in the Vleikop or Dannydale area

Anyone interested can provide their details at our offices at 13A Park Street South, Randfontein or can submit them to our tenant, Mr Stephen Ngakane, at Plot 15, Acacia Avenue, Dannydale, Westonaria.
You can also call 011 412 2013 during office hours for further details.

How to get there:

Take the road that runs past the Lafarge Cement factory. Cross over the stop street at Highway Spar and continue straight on down the hill past the old age home on the left. Turn left into Acacia Avenue.