Taking care of the environment an ingredient to development

On September 20 Interwaste and The Siyangena Environmental Stakeholder Forum awarded certificates in waste management to 16 students at Olifantsfontein/Tembisa.

Human Resources director of the organisation Rajaspree Pillay said of the graduation of the underprivileged learners: “They were selected to form part of NQF Level 1 – 4 training in waste management at Interwaste’s world-class FG Landfill facility in Midrand.”

“If we consider that 50% of entrepreneurs in South Africa are youth – with female entrepreneurs making up 47% of the pool – then there really is a great opportunity to impart real skills to those people that will one day be leaders. In fact, skills development and training form a critical pillar to South Africa’s continued improvement in GDP and in alleviating poverty,” Pillay said.

“With an increasing unemployment rate locally, training and development is becoming ever more important, and corporate South Africa has a fundamental role to play in encouraging and facilitating skills development.”

Pillay said this would give South Africans the confidence to rise beyond their current situations, and to contribute meaningfully to society.

“We believe that projects such as these are key to this change. The aim of this course is to transfer critical waste management skills to women, and to give them not only a qualification, but that they too could drive awareness within the community about waste management and the role we all play in effective waste management,” said Pillay.

The course was hosted by Interwaste and facilitated by Kobus Meyer of the Institute of Waste Management, with training covering a period of eight days over four months. Course content included:

• NQF Level 1 – handling and disposal of waste.

• NQF Level 2 – separate, handle, store, treat and transport waste.

• NQF Level 3 – collect data for environmental management purposes.

• NQF Level 4 – implement environmental improvements to a site, facility, operation or process.

Elizabeth Mokotong of the Siyangena Environmental Stakeholder Forum said: “We are proud of these students who have not only passed the course but who have excelled in this training programme. They have lived up to the primary aim of the organisation by becoming advocates for improving the community and the environment within the Olifantsfontein area.”

She said: “As they move forward with this new-found knowledge, they have a sound role to play in creating sustainable projects critical to sound community development and sustainable waste management practices.

She said they were thankful to the Department of Environmental Affairs for setting the standards for environmental sustainability.