In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment, Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa) has introduced the Green Monday SA Plant-Based Solutions program in the rural Genadendal Valley. This innovative pilot program, launched in November, is transforming the way students at LR Schmidt Primary School and Emil Weder Secondary School experience nutrition by introducing plant-based meals crafted from vegetables grown in their own school gardens.
Nutritious and Delicious Meals for All
With the support of the Western Cape Education Department, the program seeks to enhance school meals by incorporating vibrant, nutrient-rich vegetables. Currently, LR Schmidt Primary School serves approximately 360 of its 500 students daily, while Emil Weder Secondary feeds 200 of its 550 students. The carefully curated plant-based menu includes options like soy curry with spinach, turnips, and fresh herbs, colourful salads with homemade dressings, and even sweet potato chocolate brownies – a student favourite. These meals showcase how plant-based eating can be both nutritious and delectable.
Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Practices
LR Schmidt Primary School’s thriving garden, supported by additional funding, produces an impressive array of vegetables, including spinach, carrots, beetroot, sweet potatoes, and garlic. Sixty percent of the harvest directly supplements school meals, while the remaining forty percent is sold within the local community. Proceeds are reinvested into the garden, ensuring sustainability and providing essential ingredients like vinegar and spices for meal preparation.
The program’s ripple effect extends beyond the dining table. Students receive Eating Green at School is Cool booklets, which detail the nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based diets. This humane education initiative empowers students with knowledge about how their choices can positively impact their health, the environment, and food security.
Transforming School Cuisines with Green Innovation
HSI/Africa has collaborated with Valley Food Gardens and local school cooks to refine menus, ensuring a twenty percent reduction in animal-based ingredients while amplifying plant-based options. This shift not only introduces students to diverse and flavourful meals but also encourages more sustainable and humane food practices.
Norah Hudson, Green Monday SA campaign consultant, emphasizes the program’s broader impact: “Eating ‘green’ can improve food security in under-resourced communities, enhance health, and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture. Seeing students enjoy meals made from their garden’s produce is a testament to the power of this initiative.”
Inspiring the Next Generation of Gardeners
The program’s vision extends into 2025 with a unique incentive for students to engage in the feeding scheme. Those who collect meals regularly will receive a seedling tin, which they will nurture under the guidance of the school gardener. Once the seedlings mature, students can sell the produce back to the school kitchen, earning a small stipend—an invaluable opportunity for children in these rural communities.
A Global Movement for Local Impact
Green Monday, a global initiative by HSI, encourages people to adopt plant-based meals one day a week to improve health, protect the environment, and address animal welfare. With its roots in the Genadendal Valley, this initiative is poised to expand across the Western Cape and eventually throughout South Africa, creating a healthier, greener future for all.
For more details, visit www.greenmondayza.org