In May 2025, Wild Impact took part in the F20 Climate Solutions Forum held in Cape Town — a gathering space where climate action, community development, and innovation intersect. Under the theme “Trust. Transition. Transformation: Building Relationships for Climate Solidarity,” the forum brought together global leaders, practitioners, and civil society to explore practical, inclusive solutions for food security and climate resilience.
Among the contributors were three Wild Impact representatives — Lebogang Matlakala, Glacia Mkansi, and Dr Andrew Venter who participated in a panel titled “Growing Together: Whole-of-Society Approaches to Climate, Biodiversity and Food Security.” Speaking from the perspective of community-based programming in South Africa, they shared not only a project case study, but a replicable approach: one that begins with the land, and grows through the people who cultivate, sustain, and protect it.
Launched in 2023, the initiative aims to strengthen food systems by integrating small-scale agriculture into early childhood education. Ten Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs) were supported to establish food gardens, providing fresh, locally grown produce to supplement children’s meals. These gardens now function not only as sources of nutrition, but also as learning environments and shared community resources that contribute to long-term food resilience.
At the F20 Forum, Wild Impact shared a practical message shaped by community-based implementation: that some of the most effective climate and food security responses are already being developed and led at local level. As part of the panel discussion, the team presented the Welverdiend Food Security Project a locally driven initiative based in Mpumalanga’s Welverdiend community. Like many rural areas across South Africa, the region faces ongoing challenges related to food access, water availability, and sustainable income generation. The project responds to these through a focused and collaborative approach.
For Glacia Mkansi, presenting at the F20 Climate Solutions Forum was both a moment of growth and an opportunity to represent rural communities facing climate challenges. She shared how she boldly voiced the realities of food insecurity and water shortages, emphasising her commitment to advocating for the right to food and water security.
Reflecting on the event, Glacia noted that it reinforced Wild Impact’s belief in the importance of collaboration working closely with communities, governments, and partners to achieve meaningful transformation in the areas they serve. Through her contribution, the local experience was brought to the centre of a global conversation.
For Lebohang, the journey to strengthen early childhood development was more than just a project — it was a chance to see first-hand how small, focused interventions can create lasting change. Working alongside partners, they helped pilot food gardens at ECD centres, transforming them into sources of nutrition and income, with produce sales reaching almost R30,000.
Along the way, she learned from local farmers navigating the harsh realities of climate change — lessons about conserving water, creating shade, and working with the land in one of the hottest landscapes. Sharing this knowledge with the youth became a highlight, as many went on to start their own farms using the skills they gained.
Reflecting on this experience, Lebohang believes more than ever in the power of practical solutions, community collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to ensure that children not only grow up healthy but are supported by resilient, self-sustaining communities.
Speaking at the forum wasn’t just about presenting data it was about honouring the stories, struggles, and successes of communities like Welverdiend. It was an opportunity to shift the narrative from charity to capacity, from intervention to collaboration.
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115