Local NPO conducts over 200 clean-ups this year
The Soulbent project currently has 63 volunteers and has identified Saulville, Pretoria West as the area most negatively affected by litter.
The Soulbent project has had a productive 2022 after conducting 220 clean-ups around Pretoria West so far and has no plans of slowing down.
The project tasked itself with completing at least 20 clean-ups per month around parts plagued by illegal dumping and litter.
The project which was founded in 2008 by Mashudu and Millicent Makhado aims to preserve the local environment by addressing the rampant pollution around local areas and rivers.
Founder Mashudu Makhado says that after clean-ups are done, the project looks to plant vegetable gardens that will help support the surrounding community.
“We want to put a stop to the illegal dumping happening in our communities and rivers,” Makhado exdplained.
“We also want to create awareness about recycling and the vegetable gardens, because, through them, we can create employment opportunities for the less fortunate.”
The Soulbent project currently has 63 volunteers and has identified Saulville, Pretoria West as the area most negatively affected by litter.
“As we clean from Monday to Friday, this year has been rather hectic for us, but our volunteers are committed to making South Africa a litter-free country,” Makhado continued.
Some of the items Soulbent clean-ups come across regularly include discarded nappies, dead animals, clothes, food waste, and cigarette butts among others.
The project currently has two operational vegetable gardens and a seedling area which were previously illegal dump sites.
The project has collaborated with different stakeholders previously and is open to connecting with new potential partners, though would like the metro to play a bigger part in its fight against pollution.
“We want to create jobs for our volunteers whilst keeping our community clean, so we hope that the city of Tshwane and the Department of Water, Sanitation and Environmental Affairs as well as the department of public works can assist our volunteers with stipends,” said Makhado.
To find out more about the project visit www.Soulbent.org.za or ”Soulbent project recycling and gardening services” on Facebook or email Soulbent1@gmail.com.
“Charity begins at home, lets us make our environment clean and teach our kids about clean-ups,” Makhado concluded.
WATCH | Local NPO conducts over 200 clean-ups this year. pic.twitter.com/I8ikWRpwT5
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) November 11, 2022
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