Mpophomeni's (KZN) pioneer cultivates health and community through food

Originally published 2023

In Mpophomeni township, KwaZulu-Natal, Lihle Mavuso is showing that tasty and healthy food can change a community for the better. Through her plant-based food business, Khayelihle Food Bowl, Lihle serves delicious meals while encouraging healthier lifestyles and challenging traditional food choices.

What was the problem?

Mpophomeni, like many townships in South Africa, struggles with food security and access to healthy, affordable food. Lihle noticed that fast-food options in her community mainly offered unhealthy choices, leading to poor eating habits and health issues. She wanted to provide a tasty and nutritious alternative to promote plant-based eating.

How did they fix it?

Lihle Mavuso started Khayelihle Food Bowl, a takeaway business that offers a variety of tasty and affordable plant-based meals. Her goal is not just to provide food but also to educate and inspire others to live healthier lives through plant-based eating.

So, how did they do it?

• Career change to plant-based cooking: After years of baking and cooking, including working as a coordinator and cook at eThembeni Ministry, Lihle shifted to plant-based food. She was motivated by her own health journey and wanted to offer healthier options to her community.

• Learning from farming: Lihle volunteered for an internship with local farmer Nhlakanipho Nzimande, where she learned about organic farming. This experience sparked her passion for growing her own food.

• Growing local ingredients: Lihle has a small garden at home where she grows fresh ingredients like lima beans, sweet potatoes, peppers, and avocados. This ensures she has fresh produce for her meals.

• Community involvement promotes healthy eating: Lihle participates in the Sustainable Nutrition for Climate Action Research Project with One Planet SA. This helps her learn more about sustainable food choices and share her knowledge with others.

• Personal health journey inspires her work: Lihle overcame health issues by following a plant-based diet. Her experience motivates her to promote healthy eating in her community, as she believes more vegetables improved her well-being.

Acknowledgements

Author: Mpophomeni Conservation Group

Original article: Mpophomeni resident Lihle Mavuso shares her food story

Photograph: Penzmalinga

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

How to set up a community group

How to start a WhatsApp group

How to start a residents' association

How to set up a community policing forum

How to set up a neighbourhood watch

How to organise community action

How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.