and challenge what you think is possible…
You can grow more than tomatoes.
Enter the Upside-Down Tomato Challenge, an inclusive, hands-on experience where learners grow tomatoes from the bottom up, exploring science, sustainability, and self-belief. It’s a fun, educational way for children of all abilities to engage with learning while building confidence and creativity.
AND THERE IS MORE!!!!
The winning learner walks away with a PlayStation5!
Sponsored by KOODOO.co.za
The challenge isn’t just for learners—businesses can get involved too. Teams, suppliers, and partners can collaborate, innovate, and compete in a friendly, community-focused way, strengthening relationships while making a real impact.
The Cangro Upside Down Business challenge
A unique employee engagement and wellness challenge with a surprisingly personal purpose.
The Cangro Upside Down Challenge gives employees their own upside-down tomato plant to care for over approximately two months. They name it, personalise it, take it home and compete individually against colleagues and employees from other participating businesses.
What makes it different is that the challenge extends beyond the workplace. It creates an informal connection between the employee, their family, their colleagues and their company, while encouraging responsibility, participation, creativity, problem-solving and healthy competition.
It’s team building without the awkward team-building exercises, wellness without another seminar, and employee engagement that actually follows people home.
And the best part? There’s a tomato at the end.
Would you like to see how it works — and what it can reveal about your people?
You can also give back by sponsoring the entry of disabled or disadvantaged learners, ensuring every child has the opportunity to take part, learn, and thrive. Exciting prizes, meaningful experiences, and lasting impact await!
Sponsor a disabled learner
Through a collaboration between Cangro and The Chaeli Campaign, businesses sponsor a learner with a disability to take part in the Upside Down Tomato Challenge. The learner receives their own plant, takes responsibility for it and competes alongside other learners — creating a simple but powerful metaphor for overcoming challenges and achieving something that may initially seem impossible.
What makes the challenge particularly special is that every learner can compete on a level playing field. The tomato doesn’t care who has a disability. It responds to care, commitment, patience and perseverance. For the learner, being included as a genuine competitor — with the same opportunity to succeed as everyone else — can be incredibly empowering.
The business and learner challenges work together naturally. Employees can join the planting day at the school, meet the learners they are supporting and experience the initiative first-hand. Instead of CSR being something that happens somewhere in the background, employees see the impact of their company’s contribution, interact with the beneficiaries and become part of the story.
For the business, it creates a meaningful connection between employee engagement and CSI. For the learner, it creates an opportunity to participate, compete, be recognised and succeed. And for everyone involved, it turns an act of sponsorship into an experience.
The initiative is delivered through a collaboration between Cangro and The Chaeli Campaign, with tax certificates available for qualifying donations.
Would you like to see how the learner sponsorship and business challenge come together — and what your company can make possible?
Sponsor a disabled learner
Through a collaboration between Cangro and The Chaeli Campaign, businesses sponsor a learner with a disability to take part in the Upside Down Tomato Challenge. The learner receives their own plant, takes responsibility for it and competes alongside other learners — creating a simple but powerful metaphor for overcoming challenges and achieving something that may initially seem impossible.
What makes the challenge particularly special is that every learner can compete on a level playing field. The tomato doesn’t care who has a disability. It responds to care, commitment, patience and perseverance. For the learner, being included as a genuine competitor — with the same opportunity to succeed as everyone else — can be incredibly empowering.
The business and learner challenges work together naturally. Employees can join the planting day at the school, meet the learners they are supporting and experience the initiative first-hand. Instead of CSR being something that happens somewhere in the background, employees see the impact of their company’s contribution, interact with the beneficiaries and become part of the story.
For the business, it creates a meaningful connection between employee engagement and CSI. For the learner, it creates an opportunity to participate, compete, be recognised and succeed. And for everyone involved, it turns an act of sponsorship into an experience.
The initiative is delivered through a collaboration between Cangro and The Chaeli Campaign, with tax certificates available for qualifying donations.
Would you like to see how the learner sponsorship and business challenge come together — and what your company can make possible?
FAQ
Why an Upside Down Tomato Competition?
It’s not just about growing tomatoes; it’s about challenging conventional thinking and proving that thriving doesn’t have to follow the rules. What could be cooler than a tomato growing upside down from a tin can? This fun, imaginative challenge dares participants to think differently, explore unconventional gardening methods, and discover that innovation often starts when we turn things on their head. Whether you’re a first-time grower or a seasoned gardener, this is your chance to grow something extraordinary—against gravity and expectations!
When does the competition take place and how long does it run for?
Both the Business’ Challenge and the School’s Challenge takes place in the last quarter of the school year, starting in Sept. It typically lasts for 8 weeks, allowing participants ample time to grow their tomatoes and show off their results. Be sure to check our website and fb page for exact dates and deadlines!
Who determines the overall winner?
The winners will be chosen by an independent panel of judges. They will evaluate the tomato plants based on various criteria such as size, health and number of tomatoes. We also encourage a public voting aspect to allow everyone to engage in the process and vote for their favourite entries!
What online support do you offer for participants?
We provide a wealth of resources to support participants throughout the competition. This includes:
A dedicated social media hashtag for participants to share their progress and get feedback from the community.
An FAQ section to answer common questions and troubleshoot problems.
A support email or online forum where you can ask for advice from our team.
Fun experiments and weekly tips and tricks focused on sustainable gardening practices and improving plant growth.
Is there a cost to enter the competition?
Yes, the entry fee is R450 per participant. This includes delivery of your Cangro Upside Down Planting Kit, Supportive Foam, Soil, Instructions, a Face Sticker Sheet, and a Tomato Seedling – All the essential materials you need to get started will be provided, so you can focus on growing your tomatoes upside down and enjoying the process!
If I sponsor a learner, who decides on the recipient?
The recipient of our Sponsor a Learner option is determined by the Chaeli Campaign. Our goal is to make the Upside-Down Tomato Challenge a truly inclusive competition, giving children from all backgrounds the opportunity to participate. Through this initiative, we help young learners grow their self-belief, environmental awareness, and sense of community, ensuring that every child has a chance to be part of the experience.