19.04.18

Thursday

This morning we worked again with Grade 7. The children designed and drew a meal using their list of fruits and vegetables from yesterday’s lesson. Using information given to them, they then calculated how many km each item on their plates had travelled to reach Tembisa. One girl calculated that her meal had travelled a total of 85,000 km! We then asked the children to think of reasons why transporting food thousands of km was not good for the environment and what small things we might do to improve the situation. One of the solutions suggested was to grow more of our own food so, that’s exactly what we did. With a group of children, we planted spinach, onions and carrots in the school garden. The children have promised to send us photos - perhaps we should grow some too and have a competition to see who can grow the best vegetables?

Later in the day we accompanied a group of children to the Tembisa Child and Family Welfare Centre to donate some grocery items. The welfare centre performs a number a vital roles within the community which include: food parcels for families in need; nursery facilities for vulnerable families; a sewing centre training adults to make clothing to sell; a bakery which sells to the public to raise funds as well as feeding those at the centre but, most importantly, it serves as an orphanage for homeless or abandoned babies and children. Currently there are about 40 pre-school age children and babies waiting to be fostered or adopted. There is also a partner centre which looks after, and treats, children with HIV.