Herbertsdale Primary, located in the South African Mossel Bay Municipality, offers education and boarding facilities for approximately 90 students, including those with special needs.

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In May 2023, D.R.O.P.S. launched the Vegetable and Orchard Project, entirely funded by the generous donations of Schoenberg Primary School in rural Belgium. This initiative not only established a new standard by providing fresh produce for the boarding school's kitchen, but also imparted valuable lessons to students on the power of collaborative efforts in achieving self-sustainability.

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Funds were allocated to cover expenses for the installation of the school garden, such as a water pump, reservoirs, gardening tools, trees, seeds, fertilizers, etc., and work was carried out under the supervision of D.R.O.P.S. Our efforts culminated in a successful harvest in December 2023, and raised awareness that no matter how big or small the cause, where there's compassion, there is always a willingness to share.

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"We are very grateful for this donation and project that exposes our learners to skills beyond the school curriculum. In this way, they are given the opportunity to excel in other fields as well."

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These and other powerful messages of team spirit and mutual commitment were exchanged between Belgium and South Africa.

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On a visit to the school, our local partner and D.R.O.P.S. ambassador Joseph Johnston encouraged the children to dream big and use the networks around them, such as the vegetable garden project among others, to pursue those dreams.

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In the growth of the garden, we see more than just the cultivation of crops. We witness the blossoming of a friendship between these distant and culturally diverse schools, and the cultivation of a brighter future for all involved.

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