Rhiza Babuyile #ZeroHunger Partnership

Rhiza Babuyile (RB), a South African non-governmental organisation founded in 2005, has been making a profound impact on the communities it serves. With a dedicated team of over 100 employees, their mission is to empower disfranchised population groups in rural communities and townships to reduce poverty, especially among black women and unemployed young people. Rhiza Babuyile’s holistic approach to community development – by combining agriculture, enterprise development, skills development, education and healthcare – is making a significant difference to the community. 

In 2017, Rhiza Babuyile recognised the potential of agriculture to create jobs and markets for young people. After extensive research, they acquired land on the outskirts of Diepsloot and launched an agricultural pilot project for about 20 young participants. The success of the project demonstrated the potential for young people to establish their markets, and soon, the produce of the land could not keep up with the community’s demand. 

Since then, the Rhiza Babuyile agripreneurship project has expanded, giving over 300 young agripreneurs the opportunity to earn an income through self-employment. Currently, they are using the Diepsloot and newly acquired Orange Farmland to impact more lives. 

To address local challenges, Rhiza Babuyile is committed to increasing access to food and creating livelihoods in the rural community of Orange Farm, which, compared to other townships in South Africa, is relatively poor due to limited opportunities stemming from its distance from Johannesburg. Thus, prolonged unemployment has perpetuated the cycle of poverty in the community and given rise to several devastating socio-economic challenges.

The agripreneurship project continues to contribute to food security and helps create sustainable livelihoods for unemployed youths and women. Through the partnership with Woolworths, the project directly empowers 60 promising students annually and indirectly benefits 240 individuals each year, as each trained individual can impact four others, whether family members, close friends, or employees. A highlight of the project is that it provides affordable, nutritious food to clinics and Early Childhood Development Centres in the community.

The project commenced in June 2023, with Rhiza Babuyile selecting the first 50 promising students for the programme, aiming to have at least 60% of them be women. The 12-month agripreneurship training programme, accredited by Agriseta, began in July and covers various aspects of agricultural farming, including hands-on experience and entrepreneurship, to ensure students are well-prepared for the field.

One of Rhiza Babuyile’s core goals is to make organic agricultural produce, especially vegetables and fruits, affordable and accessible to the community. Thus, some of the graduates will sell their produce directly to Early Childhood Development Centres and clinics, ensuring the availability of sustainable, nutritious food at competitive prices.

Rhiza Babuyile’s projects and initiatives are a testament to their commitment to eradicating poverty, improving access to food and building livelihoods in their communities. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Rhiza Babuyile for their dedication and profound impact on the lives they touch.