KEETMANSHOOP – Oliver Nkando and his partner Medina Windstaan refused to give in to poverty due to unemployment, by setting up a backyard garden for sustaining their livelihood in the /Gereres informal settlement on the outskirts of Keetmanshoop.

“We first tried setting up a small shop selling basic commodities like bread, sugar and airtime – to mention but just a few – but after realising everybody sees it as a means of living resort to gardening,” said Nkando. 

He continued they are growing various vegetables like green pepper, spinach, cabbage and carrots for self-consumption, and also to sell some of the produce at an affordable price to fellow less fortunate residents.

Nkando (33) added they make approximately N$100 per week through selling the vegetables, which assists them to buy prepaid water to irrigate their garden and “puts bread on the table”.  He also said they trained a neighbour on the techniques of gardening, who now produce watermelons and tomatoes.  On her side, Medina (43) told this reporter she used to work as a cook in restaurants but lost her job after being retrenched due to Covid-19. 

“Me and my partner, therefore, teamed up and started this project to care for our elderly and children in the family,” she added. The couple also called on sponsors who can provide them with more seeds and government to give them a piece of land. 

“Through this we can extend our gardening project and involved others to join it so that we, as a community can start doing something to improve our current situation and not always wait on government for hand outs,” they said.