Makotse Women’s Club uplifts Limpopo community

 

With over 90% of households in Makotse Village dependent on a monthly income of R800 or less, a group of inspirational women have taken it upon themselves to uplift and empower this Limpopo community.

“My village was plagued with high poverty, teenage pregnancy and low life expectancy until our intervention. I consulted with three friends and together we came up with the idea of establishing the community development project.”

- Maria Mello, Makotse Women’s Club founder

The Makotse Women’s Club started out as a small gardening project in 1994. Ten years later their efforts were acknowledged when Maria became a finalist in 2004 Shoprite Checkers/SABC 2 Women of the Year competition. Today this organisation incorporates a thriving creche, a bakery and a drop-in centre for orphans and vulnerable children in the village.

The one-hectare garden is maintained by 40 people and has the potential to successfully run four hectares of vegetable production. It provides nutrition and economic stability to the Makotse community daily.

As a business with heart, the Shoprite Group, together with its implementation partner Food and Trees for Africa, took hands with the Makotse Women’s Club. In addition to planting seedlings, Shoprite also provides permaculture training, gardening equipment and fixed the existing water system, which resulted in the club producing enough vegetables to not only feed the community, but also to sell and in this way generate an income.

The Shoprite Group will continue to #ActForChange by partnering with exceptional women such as Maria who are working to make a difference in their communities.