Community radio station MFM 92.6 made the lives of the Khayelitsha community a little easier last week, when it donated 1 500 cans of food, clothes and crayons that its listeners donated following the station’s on-air drive for these items in August and early September. MFM 92.6 called for public donations of clothes (any old or new), cans (of food) and crayons (stationery) for the community – hence the title: the ‘4C Project’.
The primary beneficiary of the donated items was the Philisanani Agricultural Primary vegetable garden in Khayelitsha, which is managed by Savior Maqaloti. The garden is supported by a community project, run by Hippokrates residence on the Tygerberg campus, to ensure economic empowerment and sustainability. This year, it has developed the garden in such a way that it has created income, job opportunities and taught community members key skills.
MFM Station Manager, Conrad Schwellnus, visited the garden after being introduced to the Hippokrates project by Maties Community Service (MCS).“The plan was initially for our presenters to volunteer their time at the vegetable garden across fixed weekends, but on my first visit and introduction to the workers I realised that there was a definite need and the ability for us to do more,” says Schwellnus.
All donated items will be distributed to the garden workers families and those in the community with the greatest need. The stationery will be distributed to the Masephumelele Primary School, which is located next to the garden.
“MFM 92.6 has been broadcasting to a potential audience of 35 000 youth in the greater Stellenbosch community, for the past 19 years, and offers advertising an exciting avenue to reach this market,” says Judy Mile, Director of The Media Connection, one of South Africa’s community advertising radio specialists that represents MFM 92.6.
