Tafta and Starke Ayres Sow Seeds of Hope

This Spring Day, staff and residents across all 13 Tafta homes came together to plant seeds of hope—literally! In a heartwarming initiative supported by Starke Ayres, seedlings were planted to grow both gardens and opportunities to raise funds for Tafta’s essential care services.

Thanks to the generosity of Starke Ayres, 153 trays of peat and seeds were planted, with extra seedlings going into our various Homes gardens. Once nurtured, these seedlings will be sold to help bridge Tafta’s R33 million operational deficit, turning green thumbs into a source of support for older South Africans.

The planting began at Kings Hall’s Mary Asher Wellness Centre, where staff and residents wrote their names on flower tags in a friendly competition to see whose seedlings would sprout first. Residents at John Dunn House enjoyed the activity alongside bowls of fresh fruit salad, while teams in the North brought laughter and energy to their gardens. At Tafta Park and John Conradie House, everyone joined in, making the planting a truly collaborative effort.

Tafta CEO Femada Shamam reflected on the initiative: “We are facing a huge deficit this year, and we need to come together creatively. This project, sparked by Devina in our Accounts department, shows that every individual can make a difference. We’re also thrilled to have Starke Ayres partnering with us – together we are planting more than seeds; we’re planting hope.”

Jerome Zondagh, Regional Sales Manager at Starke Ayres, added: “We believe in practical, meaningful ways to support communities. Partnering with Tafta lets us use our products to empower older people while nurturing both gardens and connections.”

Through this partnership, Tafta and Starke Ayres are proving that small acts – one seed, one tray, one shared effort – can grow into something much bigger: a harvest of hope for older South Africans.

For more photos and highlights from Spring Day, visit our facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TAFTA.KZN