Just Planting Seeds
Any illusion that this project was just about helping a friend disappeared the day we went to Manenberg.
We were told casually — almost matter-of-fact — that if shots were fired, we should hide behind the main building. No big deal. The field itself was little more than a dust bowl, scarred further by gangs who’d dumped slabs of concrete across it.
And yet, despite everything, Jason Poleman of Just Planting Seeds keeps showing up for a community close to his heart.
At first, the kids carried a hard edge — and who could blame them? Many had witnessed family members killed in front of them. But the moment a ball started moving, that weight lifted. The field became something else entirely — a space where the inner child broke free, where laughter and competition overpowered fear, if only for a while.
On the drive back, Andy and I sat in silence, trying to process it all. One thing was clear: this was no small favour, and no fleeting story. This was only the beginning of something much bigger.