Chesa Foundation cleans up Maroela Park in Kempton Park

While several parks around Kempton Park remain unmaintained, Chesa Foundation NPC took action on February 28 by hosting a community clean-up at Maroela Park and along Matumi Street in Birchleigh.

The initiative was driven by concerns over visible littering, overgrown grass and illegal dumping.

The organisation believes that a clean environment reflects dignity and pride, and sought to restore that sense of ownership within the community.

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“Seeing children playing near uncollected waste and overgrown areas made us realise that immediate action was necessary to protect both their health and safety,” said founder and director Tshepo Phaho.

“As Chesa Foundation NPC, we are committed to community development and social responsibility.

“We felt it was important to lead by example and show that positive change starts with us. We aimed to address illegal dumping, pollution, overgrown grass and the negative impact these issues have on health, safety and community morale.”

Although the clean-up was deemed a success, the organisation faced several challenges, including limited resources, securing equipment, coordinating volunteers and ensuring proper waste disposal.

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Community support, however, played a key role in overcoming these obstacles.

The initiative aligns with the foundation’s broader mission to uplift communities, promote social responsibility and create safer, healthier living environments for residents.

Phaho emphasised that the clean-up carried an important message: meaningful change is possible when communities work together.

“A clean community is everyone’s responsibility, and small actions can make a big difference.

“Clean environments reduce health risks, improve mental well-being, enhance safety and promote a sense of pride and belonging among residents,” he said.

He added that local residents and volunteers showed great enthusiasm and support, which motivated the organisation to ensure the success of the project.

“We would like to see residents taking ownership of their surroundings, reduced littering, ongoing community participation and a long-term commitment to maintaining cleanliness,” Phaho said.

According to Phaho, the initiative forms part of a broader, long-term environmental commitment by the organisation, with more clean-ups and awareness campaigns planned for the future.

He expressed gratitude to every volunteer, supporter and community member who participated, saying their time, effort and dedication made the initiative possible.

Together, the foundation and residents are working towards building a cleaner and more sustainable community.