On 16 October 2009, over 150 countries will celebrate World Food Day with the theme “Achieving Food Security in times of Crisis”.

Umthathi Training Project will be celebrating World Food Day as a way of continuing our ongoing work in enabling people to realise their own capacity for ensuring that they have enough fresh healthy food. Our motto of “health through cultivation” is intended to constantly remind people that they have the ability and resources within themselves to realise their own food sovereignty and security in this time of global financial crisis.

We would like to invite all our friends, partners and colleagues to join us in a march on 16 October 2009 from Raglan Road to Church Square, where we will have a market in which various schools and community groups will sell their produce. We will also have an exhibition of communities, THP and school’s work which raises awareness about food sovereignty and security. In order for the event on 16 October to be meaningful for our friends and partners as well as the Umthathi staff, we would like to start planning and working towards it as early as possible.

All school groups, community groups and THP associations are invited to attend a function at the Umthathi Ext 7 Nursery on 8 May 2009 at 10:30 where the six-month Umthathi World Food Day programme will be launched.

During the next six months, schools are encouraged to integrate the issue of food security into their classroom activities across the curriculum. Please send us copies of poems, essays, posters and photographs of work by learners that demonstrate an awareness of how people can address food security issues using the resources they already have; we would like to publish them in the media and include them in an exhibition at Church Square on World Food Day.

As part of this campaign we are encouraging communities and learners to develop their own backyard gardens. The following categories have been identified for recognition:

{     The best small garden

{     The most creative water harvesting methods

{     The best intercropping

{     The best co-operative community group

{     The biggest harvest

{     The best use of the Agriplanner model

{     The best community outreach activities

{     The best variety of vegetables and medicinal plants

Towards the end of the campaign period Umthathi, together with the media, would like to visit community, home and school gardens so that on 16 October we can honour people who have achieved the best gardens. The best stand at the Market on World Food Day will also be recognised.

If you would like to participate in the campaign or have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Marlene Mitchener

Director

Umthathi Training Project