Siya Ntsumpa

Siya Ntsumpa holds an MA in creative Writing from Rhodes University

Siya Ntsumpa began his work on community development as a volunteer at Vukanibantu Primary school in 2012 where he established a food garden and recycling project to engage learners during breaks and after school. The aim was to close the hunger gap he observed and to equip learners with food security and waste management skills. Most of the learners he came across came from child headed households and they needed role models and mentoring. Mr Ntsumpa applied himself to this need by volunteering for a period of two years at the school. In 2014, after much research, he established The Giving Them Wings Foundation. His vision of closing the gap in learner malnutrition in disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Cape while also empowering them to be role players in (1) the development of sustainable food gardens at their schools (2) waste management at school level through recycling and environmental education was clear from the beginning. with an initial budget of just R300.00 (three hundred rand) he established a nonprofit aimed at driving environmental awareness and food security in township schools. As a solution focused individual, Ntsumpa has overcome a long list of challenges to bring lasting impact to schools, learners and educators alike where he and his organization operates.

Siya Ntsumpa’s organization focuses on food security and recycling practice in schools mentoring young people between the ages of 11-19, and school leavers between the ages of 19 and 25.

The organization has since ballooned and now adopts 21 schools and 1 clinic where food security and recycling projects run concurrently and serve the beneficiaries involved. The projects have become a lifeline for the schools and all participants as consistent sources of fresh vegetables are either used in the schools’ feeding scheme daily or taken home by learners for the benefit of their families. At the adopted clinic vegetables are grown in aid of TB patients who require fresh vegetables as a necessity in their diets. This is in line with SDG numbers 1 and 2. For almost a decade Giving Them Wings has driven this grassroots work where over 15000 young people have been trained and mentored on food production and over one million plastic bottles have been collected for recycling diverting them from landfill. This recyclable material has been a small source of income for the schools and beneficiaries, which has added to the sustainability of said food gardens. Through this approach the foundation has created a formidable food security network that spans the entire city of Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha in South Africa, benefitting over 45 000 people in 2022 alone. Through this network the organization is able to donate fresh vegetables to child care centers and other vulnerable households.

As an environmental education organization they conduct two beach clean ups and 1 community clean up a month. Marine pollution is also a notable area where the organization conducts several awareness campaigns. In 2023 they continue with workshops for fishermen that operate in and around the local Port Elizabeth harbour. To date exactly 300 fisherman have been trained on waste management onboard vessels and at harbour. These workshops and trainings will help note a change in behaviours on how materials are disposed of and how fishermen deal with derelict fishing gear.

In a survey they recently conducted, the organization found that there is a direct link between poverty and community involvement in development programs. Valuable participant contribution is critical for each program and the mission for Mr Ntsumpa and his organization is to link all environmental education activities to poverty eradication and empowerment. The organization has achieved an incredible amount of success despite its humble beginnings. Mr Ntsumpa’s dedication and sacrifice has allowed for partnerships with the German Embassy in South Africa and the French Embassy in South Africa, as a testament to his credibility and capacity to deliver on projects of a large scale. His organization is currently considered the most influential food security and environmental education non-profit in the region, this is a hard-won reputation.

His achievements include:

• Opportunity Desk Young Person Of The Month: September 2022

• iF Social Impact Prize Winner 2021

• WESSA National Youth Award Winner 2021

• Finalist Eastern Cape Youth Awards 2021 Civil Society Category

• Top 5 Finalist Isuzu & Algoa FM Green Hero Competition 2020

• PETCO SA AWARDS 2020 Winner: Environmental Education and Awareness Initiative Category

• ASSUPOL Museum of Heroes Inductee 2020

• 3rd Place South African Youth Awards 2018 Environment Category

Mr Ntsumpa drives a grassroots project that sees the daily mentorship of young people on environmental issues at schools and the greater community in the eastern cape. The Giving Them Wings team facilitates free food production lessons at schools where permaculture principles are incorporated and sometimes linked to curriculum. This has allowed the schools involved to groom vibrant gardening clubs where learners oversee consistent food security program during breaks and after school. A program such as this develops soft skills and affords young people with lifelong lessons they may utilize once their schooling careers have ended. Fresh organic vegetables are harvested for each schools’ feeding scheme. Schools have also noted an income through the sale of vegetables grown through the project.

The organization also mentors learners and communities on recycling as a lifestyle. This includes the collection of recyclable materials such as white paper, plastic bottles, cans and other valuable items. This has proven to be another income generator as some schools have been able to purchase water tanks for the collection of rain water. This has proven very crucial for drought prone city like Gqeberha.

Mr Ntsumpa has generated over R400 000 in prize money or resources for schools through training learners for environmental competitions and has seen to the transformation of township schools into environmental hubs.