The culture of permaculture

Guba 2024-2027

eSwatini continues to experience intersecting challenges characterized by inadequate or unaffordable availability of food, economic hardship due to lack of employment or income generating opportunities, a depleted ecological resource base & poor-quality health & education services.
Guba’s permaculture programmes offer a practical framework, skills and knowledge to create positive personal, family and community change within this challenging external reality. Permaculture focusses on our internal resource base (our own attitudes, beliefs, knowledge & skills) and the physical resource base we have secure actionable control over (typically our homestead). With the following services Guba aims at creating opportunities for people to improve their own quality of life utilizing the resources they have control over:

• Permaculture Design Course (PDC) graduates have the knowledge and skills to design and implement a permaculture homestead system for food production and ecological regeneration.
• Guba Permaculture Farmers Network (GPFN) members are generating income through the home based production and sale of vegetables and herbs.
• emaSwati become aware of permaculture design and its relevance in addressing current economic, political and ecological stresses through engaging with Gubas' Advocacy programme (for example tree planting day)
• Preschool aged children receive a high quality permaculture education that connects them with their natural world, builds their self-confidence and supports increased capacity for self-compassion, team work and healthy communication. Ultimately positioning them for success in their future lives (Guba Treehouse Club).
• emaSwati living with chronic health issues receive holistic support to
improve their wellness and quality of life (Guba wellness programme).

Sahee supports Guba for over 15 years already (see last project Permaculture - a way of creating resilience in times of multiple crisis where you find all links to earlier projects). Since then, the organisations' impact has grown, affecting the lives of many people, and the Guba territory has become a permaculture paradies and a role model. Whoever happens to travel through Eswatini, this is an inspiring place and worth visiting!