Tshwane metro donates 30 trees to Mamelodi

The Tshwane metro planted 30 trees at five primary schools, a church and an after-care centre in Mamelodi between September 12 and 25 to raise awareness of climate change.

Organiser, Tshwane metro environmental care said it approached Mamelodi’s Thandanani drop-in centre to form a six-month joint educational programme aimed at raising awareness about climate change and carbon missions.

Kate Kekana of the centre said Tshwane environmental care’s food gardening and cycling sports project would adopt five primary schools and 20 households.

She said the tree planting programme was an effort to preserve the environment and commemorate Arbor month.

“Thandanani centre identified five primary schools in Mamelodi and Nellmapius, Thy Kingdom Come United International Church and Thandanani narcotic centre to plant the trees at,” said Kekana.

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She said before planting the trees, they taught the learners about the environment and the significance of trees.

“The learners were also taught how to plant trees and as well as how to take care of the trees and were also encouraged to take care of the environment,” she said.

Centre facilitator Thabo Selepe said the children and educators responded positively and now have some knowledge of why it is important to partake in such initiatives.

“The future is in the hands of the youth after all and they were thankful to Tshwane environmental care for a wonderful partnership that seeks to educate the people about the importance of the environmental,” said Selepe.

The learners were also encouraged to cycle to school to reduce the carbon emissions from cars.

“Carbon emissions cause climate change and teaching learners at an early age to use bicycles as transport will make a huge difference,” she said.

The adopted schools are Zakhele, Mononong, Motheo, Sindawonye and Nellmapius primary schools and each was gifted bicycles.

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Thabo Kgotsi of the centre said: “Our mandated duties are not only limited to empowering learners with food gardens for healthy nutritional meals, caring for the environment, recycling and being warriors in the battle against global warming but we are also promoting fewer carbon emissions by cycling and a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

“Riding bicycles to go to school is also good for health as they will keep fit at all times.

“The bicycles were donated with safety gears and we also received recycling bins set to be donated to the five schools.”

The programme also promoted organic food and encouraged learners to start food gardens at their homes.

“Good health is not only the absence of disease or sickness but a complete state of mental, emotional and social well-being,” he said.

“With the challenge faced by many learners across our community regarding affordable and reliable transportation to and from school, what better alternative is there other than bicycles? Not only is it better but promotes fewer carbon emissions and healthy living with a potential to breed future cycling champions amongst the children,” he added.

He said that though what they and the metro were doing may only be a drop in the ocean but every single drop of rain changes the mass of the ocean.

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