CWAO IN THE NEWS

* Workers from Core Group paid for tools for SWWF members to start a food garden at Pirowville.
* Eleven women have turned two dumpsites into small farms, growing spinach, beetroot, onions, beans and carrots. * Two other groups of SWWF members are searching for open land in their communities to start their gardens.

Members of the Simunye Women Workers Forum (SWWF) in Pirowville, Germiston, have set up two community food gardens. These are about fighting hunger, creating a space where women can organise collectively, and building alternatives to unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living.

Workers from Core Group who are mainly men heard about the project and used their own money to pay for the seeds, hand gloves and hosepipes. "Through this experience of training, we have been given a tool that brings us together as women. Most of us have grown up in communities where food gardening was common, but we had never seen it as a space for healing and unity while also responding to food insecurity and unemployment," the SWWF members said.

"Many of us are single parents and unemployed. Life is very challenging economically. It’s impossible to make ends meet. Our aim is to see women generating an income through these spaces," the comrades added.

The contribution from Core Group workers transformed an idea into a living project. "Without their support, the food gardens would have remained an idea. We have seen the power of solidarity in different forms through Simunye, proving that collectively we can bring about change in our communities."

They hope more women will join SWWF and start gardening so that families have food on the table: "We are hoping that the food gardening will bring many women into one space and help us feed our families."

Solidarity is more than words

The workers of Core Group issued this statement of solidarity:
As the Core Group, we see this garden as more than just a place to grow food. This project is a powerful step forward for women empower-ment, food security, and community strength.

We are happy to contribute to this initiative for three main reasons:
1. Fighting Poverty and Hunger: High unemployment and high food prices make life difficult for many families. Growing your own food brings real help to homes and helps women depend more on themselves.
2. A Safe Space for Women: We believe land is a place of healing and connection, as such this garden project will provide a sacred, safe space for women to come together, step away from daily burdens, and discuss the complex issues affecting their lives—from tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and economic marginalisation to building leadership from the ground up. 3. Working Together: When women work together, they become stronger.Real change happens when women organise better. In solidarity, by cultivating the soil together, we are cultivating trust, collective action, and unity. The discipline required to tend a garden mirrors the very strength needed to organise workplaces and communities.

The main importance of our financial contribution is to encourage and show solidarity among the working class, particularly women, at all material times. Standing in solidarity means backing our words with action.

Our support lets the Simunye Women Worker’s Forum know that their struggle is seen, their dignity is respected, and they have reliable allies walking beside them.

The SWWF Pirowville Food Gardening Women said: "We would first like to thank the existence of Core Group workers, the CWAO, SWF and SWWF. The spaces they have created to connect with communities are very important to the masses out there."

For more information, please contact Tskani on 073 056 5180

Category: MEDIA COVERAGE | WORKER RIGHTS