Marilyn Bassin of Boikanyo shares her learnings from her experience of community-based work on a vegetable garden project in Soweto, with us.
Our experience over the past few months has taught us huge amounts about working in communities. One of the lessons learnt is that sometimes our preconceptions harm, and prevent progress. Earlier this year (in April), we realized that the morale amongst the vegetable garden volunteers was low. We wanted to know what the reason was for this, so we met with the volunteers for a discussion. It transpired that the volunteers did not want Gayle (also from Boikanyo) and me to be around – the volunteers wanted more independence. Gayle and I took a step back, and agreed to letting the volunteers run the garden without any input (besides monetary) from us. After 2 months, we returned to find what was formerly barren and unused ground transformed into lush vegetable garden, with every inch having been utilised. A recycling area had also been set up at the back of the garden, and serves as an additional source of income for the community. It was clear that things were thriving in our absence, and that we had to leave the volunteers to make decisions about the future of the garden.
So what have we learnt?
- Working in the community has taught us so many things, the most important being that no matter how much we feel the need for change, unless the community feel the same way, the donation and support can be unappreciated.
- As NGOs it is important not to impose our dreams onto the communities in which we work. The people on the ground need to develop their own dreams and aspirations according to what they know and feel they can achieve. NGOs are not the solution – rather, people like us are just part of a bigger solution.
- As an NGO we are servants to our communities and have to adapt according to the needs of the community. It is a situation we don’t mind being in – what defines us is our mutual loyalty and faithfulness, even if it means that plans made months ago need to be altered a bit or put on hold.
Earlier this year, just before we left the garden:
3 Months later, when we returned:
doreen gough :
We are planning to help a community east of Pretoria to establish vegetable gardens so was very interested to read this.
Anne Canham :
This is so wonderful. Great job to these guys. Our organization has recently started vegetable gardens. We are encouraged when we see the before and after pictures.