A FRESH DELIVERY FROM THE WELLNESS FARM

Under the guidance of Michele de Witt, a group of volunteers from Val de Vie Estate harvest fresh vegetables each week from the Wellness Farm, which are then donated to drug-resistant TB patients living in our valley. The vegetables are collected from the Estate by NorSA Community Care, an organisation that develops, manages, and facilitates community-based projects. NorSA Community Care invests in the lives of impoverished communities to ensure that they can develop to their full potential.

Introduced in August 2023, the produce from the Wellness Farm is weighed, re-packaged and then distributed to those in need, with each patient receiving a bountiful hamper twice per month. NorSA and the Department of Health currently have 67 drug-resistant TB patients on the programme, of which six are pediatric patients under 18 years of age, including a child who is 20 months old. Since the programme was introduced, 50 patients have been cured, with 3,380 kilograms of produce harvested and donated to approximately 96 patients, with over 1,500 indirect family beneficiaries.

“I really do believe that there is more to the donations than just the physical impact of nutrition. In my professional opinion, the psychological impact of having something fresh and beautiful to eat and the notion that the recipients consider themselves worthy of receiving this produce is beneficial in itself. Unfortunately, TB still carries a stigma in our communities, but by giving to these patients, we are breaking down these preconceptions. A huge thank you to every Val de Vie Estate volunteer; we are truly blessed by the amazing support you provide, and the proof is in the result of the project and the smiles we see every time we make our deliveries.”

Petra Nel, Project Manager, NorSA Community Care

“I am immensely grateful to the beautiful people who grow and nurture our Wellness Farm. With their vast knowledge of every crop and eagerness to share, I felt like a schoolchild soaking up all the knowledge. There’s nothing like nature to bring you back down to earth. Being part of the Val de Vie Foundation team that picks veggies for NorSA Community Care has been a wonderful experience. I am so happy to form part of this wonderful initiative.”

Carla DeWet, Val de Vie Estate Resident

“We are grateful to the Foundation for including us in their programme, allowing us to harvest for a very worthwhile charity. We have experienced the true extent and value of the Wellness Farm on the Val de Vie Estate. Friendships with staff and fellow volunteers have been made, and the camaraderie on each outing is special. Giving back is important to us, and the programme has met this need. Inadvertently, we are now aware of crop rotations and seasonal changes. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this beautiful experience.”

Lynette and Brian Fraser, Val de Vie Evergreen

“I have been volunteering for NorSA Community Care since October 2023 and have found it so fulfilling. I meet with all the charity’s employees and identify the areas where I could be useful. I also go out and deliver the vegetables from the Wellness Farm every second week. Meeting the patients face to face helps identify those who may be more vulnerable and need more specific interventions. Moving forward, I will be holding health and nutrition-focused workshops for foster mothers and community support workers on various health topics, and we have lots more planned for the year ahead, including the basics of TB and HIV, diabetic care, hypertension and more.”

Helen Prozesky, Val de Vie Estate Resident, NorSA Community Care Volunteer Dietitian and Nutritionist

If you are interested in volunteering with the Val de Vie Foundation, please email foundation@valdevie.co.za