Together with Global Nature Fund and its South African partner organisation Wild Impact, the Wilo-Foundation supports the expansion of climate-resilient school gardens in South Africa. The project improves food security for children in rural communities while creating practical training and employment opportunities for young people (project page).

In the project regions surrounding Kruger National Park and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, many children depend on meals provided at schools and early childhood development centres. At the same time, poverty, water scarcity and the impacts of climate change make local food production increasingly challenging. To address these issues, the project combines climate-resilient vegetable production with skills development for young people.

Building on a successful pilot project, the approach has been significantly expanded over the past months. Today, seven seedling centres, including four newly established facilities, supply a total of 50 school and learning gardens. Since the project began, more than 174,000 vegetable seedlings have been produced and distributed to participating institutions.

The project's impact is already visible: more than 5,700 children benefit from the school gardens. During the 2025/2026 reporting period, over 10,500 kilograms of vegetables were harvested and used for school meals. At the same time, participating institutions reduced their spending on purchased vegetables by an average of around 70 percent.

Another key focus of the project is youth development. The first cohort of 58 young people has already started a twelve-month qualification programme, gaining practical experience in the seedling centres and school gardens. In addition, participants receive training in sustainable agriculture, digital skills and employability. Over the three-year project period, a total of 174 young people will be prepared for their transition into working life.