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Yandiswa from Masi Creative Hub
It always seems impossible until it's done!
Jo Hunter Adams
February 27, 2025
Hi! I'm Jo, writing from Heart & Soil homestead, a 1-acre homestead in the Far South of Cape Town, South Africa. Every week I share inspiration and education for your growing journey. Thanks so much for reading!
Welcome to Stories, where growers, homesteaders and small-scale farmers in South Africa share about their journeys. Today I'm sharing Yandiswa’s story. Yandiswa is a growing inspiration in our community, as the founder of Masi Creative Hub. As part of their programming, Masi Creative Hub has trained and employed Garden champions and Food ambassadors to grow good food and help others to grow and eat well in our community.
It always seems impossible until it’s done!
Yandiswa in one of their beautiful gardens
Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Yandiswa Mazwana, originally from a very little town called Tsomo. I am proud African rooted Xhosa woman born in this town. I did my primary and Secondary schooling there. I am a mother of 2, I am 46 years but a mother to all children in my community who affectionately call me Mama Yandi. I have lived Masiphumelele since year 1999.
Masi Creative hub has been using ecobricks as bed edges for many years.
How did you start doing what you are doing now?
Masi Creative Hub started as way of wanting to gift my community with something that will last, easy to be witnessed, changing people’s lives and our community. A thought of establishing an organization came to my mind, with a focus on “how do I transfer my knowledge to young people in order they become responsible leaders in their society”. How do I create a safe and supportive space for them to acquire skills to better their future. And I added their wish of easy access to healthy good food and a safer environment.
helping people grow in whatever is available
One of our gardens
What are you most proud of in this process?
As we focus on youth, I am most proud of young people being part of the change in the process of the community changing their life styles.
One highlight in our work has been helping family’s change what they send to school in lunch boxes for foundation phase children in Masiphumelele. We’ve managed to empower people to serve healthy lunch boxes, with teachers telling stories about how the children benefit from this process.
I’m also very proud that 12 youth went from Masi Creative Hub on to different institutions of high education!
I’m most proud that children like this student are eating well at school, and this is helping to change how parents think about food.
What is the most helpful piece of advice you received when you were just starting out?
Yandi please look after yourself! Working and loving people is exhausting, don’t burn out. Meditate, find time and spaces of support for yourself.
The other one was the most important thing. Do what is already wanted by people. This is how you programmes successful, by listening to people about how they need these programs to be run. What time suits them? What will work for them? Rather than us designing things that don’t work at all for people and lives.
Our Garden champions helping the community make use of every available space
What advice would you like to give to others who are younger/earlier on their journey?
Time is the most precious thing. Value it and use it wisely. Time wasted never returns.
"On time before time every time" was our 2024 slogan
Aphiwe giving a👆🏾 lesson about what he planted, havested and cooked for the kids.
Where do you see growing going in South Africa?
I see growing bigtime in the Eastern Cape rural areas, where there is loads of land that is not used.
Inkomo yobuthongo ayikho (You need to work to achieve success in life, not just sleep)
/We’re able to transport our produce by bike.
Thank you so much to Yandiswa for sharing your story. When I’m reading your story, I feel inspired to direct my energy with all the focus and passion you have, for positive impact.
If you have the means, consider donating to Masi Creative Hub’s effort to give 20 starter kits in the next 2 months: 1 spade 1 watering can 1 hand spade 1 hand fork, to 20 households who have shown interest and been trained to begin growing a garden.
Seeds and seedlings donations are always needed those who are local.
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