Learners encouraged to start vegetable gardens
"The awareness campaign started last month at the schools and we have involved community members to help with the programme."
Mamelodi learners were encouraged to start their own vegetable gardens at their homes and schools.
This after Tshwane metro’s environmental care and management team joined forces with Thandanani Drop Inn centre to raise awareness about climate change.
Thabo Kgotsi, from Thandanani Drop Inn Centre, said they were working together with the Tshwane environmental care to educate learners about creating sustainable food resources and agricultural entrepreneurship.
“We are currently working together with the grade 6s and 7s from Nellmapius, Sindawonye, Zakhele, Mononong and Zakhele primary schools,” said Kgotsi.
He said this was also part of the learner’s curriculum for the subjects of life orientation and natural science.
“The awareness campaign started last month at the schools and we have involved community members to help with the programme.
“The programme will take about six months, talking about climate change and taking care of our environment.”
The objective of the educational programme was to promote the issue of organic food and encouraging learners to start food gardening at their homes.
The learners had the opportunity to learn about preparing to start a vegetable garden and preparing the soil.
“We have identified 20 families within the community whereby they will help the families to start their own vegetable gardens.
“The learners have already started with their vegetable gardens and when it is time for harvesting the school feeding scheme will benefit,” said Kgotsi.
The programme focused on environmental advocacy; nature conservation and preservation; effects of illegal dumping and littering; recycling; adverse consequences; and the implications of global warming.
“Knowledge is power. This is our bid to empower our community and learners, and acknowledge that we are a part of bigger problem faced by the entire planet, namely global warming. Global warming means nothing to many people, but the adverse effects are seen and felt across the world by humans, animals and nature.
“As the world advances, forests are replaced by concrete jungles, trees, plants and animals dying to make way for human occupation, generations to come risk barring witness to our wrath on nature. It’s up to us to turn the tide and undo the damage we are causing to the earth while we still can.”
He added that they have other community stakeholders like the local CPF helping out with cleaning neighbourhoods and door-to-door awareness about illegal dumping sites.
“If we carry on with illegal dumping sites, our great grandchildren will never have an opportunity to see some of the animals because they will die,” said Kgotsi.
Furthermore, learners were taught about carbon emissions and were all encouraged to use bicycles to go to schools instead of cars.
Kgotsi said riding bicycles to school was also good for their health as they will keep fit at all times.
Kgotsi said the Tshwane metro was getting bicycles for Thandanani, who is responsible for learners in primary schools around Mamelodi East and Nellmapius.
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