Scaw Metals Group, a leading manufacturer of steel and steel products, recently joined forces with Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA), to plant 1 000 trees in the metro.
The first tree handing-out ceremony took place in ward 51, at Monde Primary School, in Katlehong, last Tuesday.
Members of the community were given fruit trees to plant in their gardens.
“We are committed to improving the lives and social situations of our workers, who mostly reside in and around the metro,” said Markus Hannemann, chief executive officer of Scaw.
“By partnering with FTFA, we are able to make a significant impact.
“Scaw is about more than just the products that we manufacture, our investment in our people is a key focus of our leadership team.
“We believe that, by making the community look better, it will instil a sense of pride in our employees.”
The collaboration does not stop at 1 000 trees being planted, but extends to local training of the community educators.
The community educators will make sure the community is fully equipped and educated on how to care for their newly planted trees, help them to understand the importance of having these trees and increasing environmental awareness in the community.
“Since the birth of FTFA, in 1990, we have seen remarkable changes in the communities we have worked in,” said Jeunesse Park, founder of FTFA.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Scaw, as they are one of the leading companies in the areas.
“Hopefully it will be the first of many similar collaborations.”
FTFA is the first and only South African social enterprise that develops, promotes and facilitates greening, climate change action, food security and sustainable natural resource use and management.
“The Trees for Homes programme with Scaw has been one of our most popular programmes,” Park added.
“It has been designed to improve the quality of life of the community members, provide fruit for sustenance and contribute to the development of sustainable human settlements.”
