The Donald Woods Foundation has partnered with a small project near Hobeni, Mbashe, which combines permaculture gardening / farming with caring for people with special needs, and in particular, the mentally disabled, some of whom have suffered abuse and contracted HIV in the process.
Ikhaya Loxolo (Home of Peace) includes four houses, goat stable, toolshed and chickenhouse and is the first project of this kind in the Eastern Cape, the first to establish a home for the mentally disabled in such a rural area and the only one that provides care and training for people with special needs in the Xhora district. Large permaculture gardens have been established, partly with a drip irrigation system, partly without. A power hoe funded by DWF is pictured above. Chicken, rabbits and Saanen goats are bred at the project, for eggs, meat, milk and milk products, including the precious manure.
Ikhaya Loxolo is trying to make a small difference by helping to improve the local's poor diets, which often results in malnutrition, sickness and death. It sells organically grown vegetables, provides seedlings and provides teaching in organic gardening. The project also concentrates on the mentally disabled, who are unable to help themselves and whose families are unable to care for a disabled family member. Since January 2008, several mentally disabled youth and adults have become part of Ikhaya Loxolo.
