Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) has been working with property group and real estate investment trust Fortress REIT. Together, they have established food gardens and distributed thousands of trees to people who need them most.
For Women’s Month, Fortress approached FTFA, looking to support women living near their properties. “We looked at our applications database and were able to identify the most promising applicants close to Fortress-owned properties,” says Emily Jones, FTFA Trees and Carbon Programme Manager. Through the partnership, Fortress and FTFA handed out more than 450 trees to women farmers. As a result, these farmers will be able to diversify their produce and become more sustainable in the long term.
September was a busy time for the Fortress–FTFA partnership, as it distributed trees to often-overlooked parts of the country. Heritage Day, in particular, was an opportunity to bring trees to communities. With the support of the Ndebele royal family, FTFA and Fortress distributed 450 trees to communities living on amaNdebele land in KwaMhlanga. In honour of Arbor Month, Fortress REIT also donated trees to communities in Bloemfontein and Rustenburg. These 5,200 trees will bring shade and fruit to homes, schools, community centres and clinics.
“Without Fortress’ partnership, a lot of these applications would just never have been fulfilled,” Emily says.
A blossoming Fortress–FTFA partnership
Fortress REIT sponsored its first food garden at a school in Evaton, Gauteng. “Our first project blossomed into so much more than we had hoped for,” says Jodie Ellinor-Dreyer, Financial Manager at Fortress REIT. “There was even an opportunity for staff to volunteer at a school food garden and tree-planting initiative. A number of my colleagues took part and it was an amazing, memorable day for us all.”
Since then, Fortress REIT has supported 11 long-term food gardens and planted more than 17,425 trees. With the help of FTFA, it has touched the lives of 23,400 people and directly trained almost 300.
Building long-lasting relationships with communities
“Fortress had been looking for corporate social investment projects that help build relationships with communities in proximity to properties in our portfolio,” says Jodie. Relationships “that are long lasting, that have scope to expand and address socio-economic, environmental and sustainability goals.”
In 2020 alone, the Fortress–FTFA partnership has touched the lives of thousands of people. As part of their combined COVID-19 response, they began a community-based nutrition support initiative. FTFA identified community-based organisations in communities near Fortress REIT malls. The partnership then matched support with the communities that needed it.
For example, 75 homes in Emthonjeni Wokuphila in KwaMhlanga received “garden-in-a-bucket” resources. Designed to help recipients start their own gardens, these contain compost, fertiliser, herbs, seeds, a bucket, a watering can and hand tools.
“The first project was a huge success and, as a result, Fortress is now working with FTFA on a number of large community projects, in addition to ad hoc small project opportunities that come to light as we take this journey with FTFA,” says Jodie.
