A look into Diepsloot youth programme
DIEPSLOOT – Youth service programme uplifts Diepsloot.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is a youth service programme for young people of all ages in Diepsloot and around South Africa.
A representative of the organisation, Rita Groenewald, said the Diepsloot Greening Club is run from the Father Louis Blondel Centre. “Weekly lessons are given throughout the year to 60 participants, such as helping to take care of domestic animals near the centre, recycling and re-purposing waste into useful items, and taking part in clean-up campaigns.”
Groenewald said a second group is run with children from Diepsloot in partnership with Shumbashaba horse farm.
Read: Horses help to heal Diepsloot children through the Shumbashaba Community Trust
Every week up to 250 children walk up to 10km to Shumbashaba.
“Soccer and horse appreciation lessons are loved by the participants and Roots and Shoots facilitators give lessons on creating food gardens in small spaces that can be replicated at home, appreciation of domestic and wild animals, as well as lessons on respecting people from various backgrounds and the environment.
To combat pollution, both Diepsloot groups are involved in clean-up campaigns regularly and have recently been given a boost in resources by joining the A Re Sebetseng mayoral campaign, cleaning up every last Saturday of the month. Eco-bricks are also being made by both Roots and Shoots groups in Diepsloot.
Groenewald explained, “An eco-brick is a plastic bottle stuffed tightly with single-use plastic and polystyrene, and is a very versatile building brick. Chairs are being made, and in future with enough bricks, permanent benches and gardens can be constructed with these bricks.”
In South Africa, the organisation has groups making a difference in five provinces. Some of the groups are run as grass-roots education programmes.
Details: If you would like to start a group, or would like to assist existing groups you can contact Rita Groenewald at rita@rootsandshoots.org.za or
072 723 9256.
