Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day, teach that person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime. This age-old principle of alleviating poverty by facilitating self-sustainability is the premise of Afrika Tikkun’s Urban Agripreneurship Incubator Project.
This empowering programme is currently operational in Dieplsloot and Orange Farm in Gauteng. Intended to improve incomes, it also increases access to nutritious fresh produce and creates decent livelihoods. Unemployed youth are also empowered with the skills to launch their own agri-businesses.
The benefits of the Urban Agripreneurship Incubator Project include:
- An increase in the net incomes of Agripreneur graduates as they grow and sell their own produce
- Growth in sustainable and environmentally conscious farming practices, contributing to the renewal of farmable land
- Enhanced township food systems as the availability of fresh produce will stimulate greater demand and improve access to healthy foods
- Improved township economies as the Urban Agriculture market will lead to the growth of new businesses and employment opportunities
- Better livelihoods due to greater access to nutritious food leading to better health
How the programme works
Both training streams – Urban Agripreneurship Solutions and Regenerative Tiny Farms – will focus on animal rearing, developing agri-tech solutions for farming inputs, business development and financial management. The project will also provide enterprise development support through mentorship and grants.
This initiative forms part of the Youth Acceleration Program, which is geared towards 18 to 21-year-olds. There is a need for innovative approaches to upskill this age group and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.
About Afrika Tikkun – One of SA’s most impactful organisations
Afrika Tikkun was founded in 1994 with the goal of developing and uplifting young people in under-privileged communities in South Africa. The organisation works to end child poverty and youth unemployment by implementing its Cradle-to-Career 360° model (C2C). This approach includes personal, leadership and academic development while also addressing the nutritional, health, and social needs of the young person.
In addition to the work readiness programmes designed to lead to work placements, Afrika Tikkun also implement skills development for out-of-school youth.
The team is passionate about working with like-minded partners who also take the long view to support kids from early childhood until they are productive adults accessing the economy. Afrika Tikkun has been recognised as one of the most impactful organisations in South Africa due to the success of the C2C programme.
Find out more about Africa Tikkun on their website, or email: info@afrikatikkun.org
