Cherith Projects and Earthly Touch use plastic bottles to build crèche in Diepsloot
A crèche has been built in Diepsloot using an astonishing 58 000 plastic bottles, removing 32 tons of waste from the environment.
When Colin and Lisa Ekman retired, they didn’t head for the quiet life, or laugh all the way to the bank, instead, they rolled up their sleeves and got back to work, building a crèche in Diepsloot out of 58 000 plastic bottles.
The new crèche, officially launched on June 21, is the third structure built by Cherith Projects and Earthly Touch using eco bricks, 2L plastic bottles filled with non-recyclable waste such as chip packets and bread bags.
“We have worked all around Africa. Now, we wanted to focus nearer to home,” said Colin, who served as a minister at Village Church Lonehill for 16 years. “When we both retired, we wanted to make our final years relevant for our local community.”
The couple’s connection to Diepsloot goes back many years. Lisa, a former art teacher, met Bishop Setumo Dlothi while working at a school in Riversands.
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That relationship led to their involvement with Earthly Touch, Dlothi’s NPO, and the start of a shared vision for education and sustainability.
Each bottle used in the crèche was collected by local schools and Diepsloot residents.
“The lower bottles, near the foundations, are filled with sand for stability,” said Colin. “The rest are filled with soft plastic waste. It’s all about using what would otherwise pollute the environment to build something lasting.”
In total, the project has removed 32 tons of plastic waste from the environment, but the couple’s efforts go far beyond construction. Working with local churches, they’ve also established 40 vegetable allotment gardens for elderly women in Diepsloot. “Many of the grannies don’t receive a government grant. We give them seedlings and compost, and they come weekly to water, weed, and harvest. It feeds their families and gives them dignity.”
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Teachers at the crèche are also enrolled in early childhood development training, and will graduate with formal qualifications.
Their next project, a new crèche and adult education centre, will begin on Nelson Mandela Day.
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