Eastern Cape Province, on the east coast of South Africa, has a population of seven million; one-third of the people are under 15 and 64 percent are under 30. Homeland of former South African President Nelson Mandella, Eastern Cape is the second largest and the country's poorest province, and outside of costal cities, largely a land of subsistence farmers.
The community members of Malungeni share communal land of 400 hectares for crop farming and grazing cattle, sheep, and goats.
The Mdumbi river flows year-around through the agricultural lands, and is the source of drinking water and identified for a potential irrigation system. Villagers grow primarily corn and vegetables and some land has been identified as suitable for essential oils crops such as lavender and rosemary. There is a community run school with Grade R (pre-primary) to Grade 9. Youth programs on preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS run from a centre with many other activities such as concerts, workshops, funerals, weddings and pay days (when villagers come for government grants). Brick-making, poultry raising, forestry, community gardening and baking are current micro-businesses providing minimal community economic vitality.
