What we do
Tackling challenges faced by ECD centres and underfunded schools, we integrate food gardens into the curriculum,
promoting well-being, educational outcomes, and community engagement.
Authentic Roots collaborates with Non-Profit Organisations (NPO’s) organisations and corporates who prioritize education, nutrition, food security and sustainability by offering an integrated approach to education and skills development.
The interactive educational storybook is designed to engage learners with every step of the process,
from planting seeds to harvesting.
ECD centres and schools are trained on how to establish and maintain a food garden by applying a variety of sustainable practices such as making compost using food waste recycling.
Additionally, our CSI Repurposing Projects breathe new life into outdated corporate materials, creating jobs and
contributing to sustainability.
Food Garden and Education Programme
Some of the prominent challenges and obstacles facing ECD centres and underfunded preschools include absence of quality learning materials and resources, especially within the classroom setting, minimal funding, lack of qualified teachers and a
lack of nutritious meals.
Cultivating a mindset of sustainability through children’s education.
Authentic Roots participatory school-based food garden and education programme addresses most of these challenges in a creative and sustainable manner. This integrated programme has a multifaceted impact. It addresses food security, provides valuable educational experiences, promotes environmental awareness, develops life skills, fosters community engagement, and even has economic benefits.
By integrating food gardens into the curriculum and school environment, rural schools can enhance the well-being and educational outcomes of their learners while creating a positive impact on the community as a whole.
The programme benefits.
This programme will benefit Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and primary schools in developing a more sustainable approach to education and food gardening.
This programme also assists Non-Profit Organisations (NPO’s) and corporates who prioritize education, nutrition, food security and sustainability, in creating a positive impact for their beneficiaries.
Our first NPO collaboration was with Early Care Foundation and their donor Shoprite Checkers. A total of 40 ECD centers, nationally, equating to 800 children were supplied a plantable storybook, nutritional soil and a recycled ice-cream container to plant in.
The planting project at schools begins with story time by their teachers, followed by a planting their page in their containers and watering them. A planting calendar is used daily to count the amount of days it take for a seed to sprout, thus also teaching learners on how to count. Watering their seed trays is a daily activity which encourages children to care for nature.
CSI Repurposing Projects
Authentic Roots supports recycling and job creation by collaborating with corporates who are committed to sustainability. We provide repurpose and recycle solutions for outdated marketing materials. By breathing new life into these materials, we help companies enhance their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives.
Repurposing African Banks marketing banners.
In one of our recent projects, we repurposed African Bank’s out dated marketing banners into school pencil cases, which was then filled up with stationery, and donated to their CSI beneficiary school, the Winnie Mandela Primary School.
By repurposing unwanted corporate material itnot only eliminates waste to landfills, but it also creates jobs in the informal sector, thus contributing to our economy.
TOGETHER, we can make a difference!
