In many South African communities, unemployment and food insecurity remain daily realities for young people. Through Fidelity Foundation’s long-standing partnership with Oliver’s Village, however, agriculture is becoming more than just a survival tool — it is creating pathways to dignity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
For more than 11 years, Fidelity Foundation has supported Oliver’s Village in Benoni through agricultural development, accredited training programmes, food security initiatives, and youth skills development. The programme equips unemployed youth and aspiring farmers with practical agricultural and entrepreneurship skills, helping them transition into income-generating opportunities within their own communities.
Today, graduates of the programme are not only growing crops, but growing businesses. Learners who completed the NQF Level 4 Plant Production Programme are now using their skills to establish home gardens, supply fresh produce locally, and explore small-scale farming enterprises.
The programme currently produces vegetables including spinach, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and herbs, with approximately 400 bundles of spinach and beetroot sold daily within the local community.
What makes the initiative particularly impactful is its focus on long-term self-sufficiency. Rather than providing once-off assistance, the programme empowers young people with accredited skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and practical farming experience that can create sustainable income opportunities. To date, 50 learners have graduated from the programme, with additional students expected to enrol in 2026.
For Fidelity Foundation, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to sustainable community development and meaningful youth empowerment. By investing in agricultural entrepreneurship, the Foundation is helping cultivate a new generation of young South Africans who are capable of feeding communities, creating livelihoods, and driving local economic growth.
As South Africa continues to confront high youth unemployment, programmes like Oliver’s Village demonstrate how agriculture — when paired with mentorship, skills development, and community support — can plant the seeds for lasting change.
Issued by Fidelity Services Group – charnelh@fidelity-services.com
