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The joint laying hen project of AfriForum, Sai and the Princess Gabo Foundation reached a significant milestone when the first eggs were recently sold to local community members on the Blijdskap farm in the Thaba ‘Nchu area.
This event marks the beginning of a new era for food security in the region, with around 20 dozen eggs already delivered.
The primary driving force behind the initiative is to improve access to nutritious, protein-rich food at affordable prices, with a specific focus on pregnant women and young children.
The project forms an integral part of the broader agricultural development strategy of kgosi Gaboilelwe Moroka, the kgosi of the Barolong Boo Seleka. His vision is aimed at strengthening food security at the grassroots level and at the same time creating opportunities for community members to generate a sustainable income.
Kgosi Gabo Moroka, the founder of the Princess Gabo Foundation, says the project stems from a deep concern about nutritional deficiencies in the community.
“It is a sad reality that many pregnant women and young children do not have sufficient access to nutritious food – especially animal protein – which causes child development problems.
“This project is a humble attempt to make a real difference in children’s lives and I believe that it will inspire people to support the project so that it can grow as big as the dream we cherish. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Internationaler Club im Auswärtiges Amt (ICAA), AfriForum and Saai for their contributions that make the project possible.”
Turn obstacles into lessons
The establishment of the Boschveld laying hen project last year was partly made possible by a generous donation from the ICAA of Berlin, Germany. Despite the initial funding, the road to success was not without challenges. In the initial phase, the project staff had to face several serious challenges: chicken deaths, losses due to stray dogs and predators, damage caused by storms and initial low egg production.
However, these obstacles were not viewed as failures, but as valuable learning opportunities. This led to practical and necessary improvements in the management, feeding and physical protection of the chickens, which eventually paved the way for the first successful egg sales.
Cooperation and independence
AfriForum and Saai are actively involved in the project through their joint agricultural development incubator, the Resilient Regenerative Agricultural Initiative MSW (RRAIN). This partnership emphasizes the importance of sustainability over dependency.
Nantes Kelder, the national project coordinator for intercultural relations and cooperation at AfriForum, believes the project is a beacon of hope for community development.
“This project shows that sustainable community development is possible when actors, based on shared values and vision, work together to promote food security and economic growth. The project improves community self-reliance and own ability and actively focuses on not creating dependency,” says Kelder.
Leon Lourens, development coordinator of Saai, agrees that the project’s impact extends far beyond simply the production of food. According to him, the value lies in empowering people.
“The project is about more than just eggs. It creates local skills, strengthens agricultural knowledge and builds a culture of independence and responsibility. It contributes to economic activity and long-term community development.”
Building a peaceful future
The bigger picture of this initiative also touches the core of social cohesion in South Africa. Barend Uys, head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum, believes that such projects lay the foundation for healthy coexistence.
“Good relations and cooperation between different cultural communities, based on mutual recognition and respect, are essential to ensure the prosperous and peaceful coexistence of communities at the southern tip of Africa.
“It is a privilege for AfriForum to be part of the cultural communities network that enables communities to find each other and work together to improve the lives of people at the grassroots level,” says Uys.