In South Africa, there is huge disparity between the ʻleafyʼ privileged areas and the ‘barren’ under-privileged areas. We have one of the highest levels of inequality in the world. Lack of green spaces in communities is known to contribute to social problems. The Kuo & Sullivan Report, 2001, states:
“Degradation of neighbourhoods exacerbates poor social cohesion, crime, drug abuse and environmental downfall. Urban greening has been closely linked to reductions in these social problems.”
Environmental education is lacking and children need to reconnect with nature and learn to respect it. On top of this, lack of food and malnutrition is the biggest problem in South African schools. This affects concentration levels, ability to learn and school attendance.
Planting indigenous trees with learners:
• Teaches valuable environmental lessons
• Reconnects learners with nature
• Beautifies schools and communities instilling pride of place
• Creates shady spaces for children to play
Fruit groves at schools:
• Provide fruit and nutrition for school children
• Aid concentration, uplift learning experiences and improve school attendance
• Provide children with the valuable experience of planting, growing and caring for something as well as seeing the positive results that come from this
• Provide practical environmental education on the benefits of trees, growing produce and caring for our environment
A typical School Planting Day sees 20 learners, teachers, Greenpop planters (or company staff) planting together. We start with an outdoor lesson on the importance of trees and a detailed planting demonstration and then everyone is split into teams to plant, get their hands dirty and have fun while learning about how valuable and important trees are.
Afterwards, Greenpop talks the school through our grey water system where classes are assigned trees to care for and water. Three times a week, each students brings in a 2-litre recycled plastic bottle with their used bath or dish water from home to water their specific trees. This saves the school’s water, teachers recycling, empowers the learners to take responsibility for their trees and ensures the trees don’t get thirsty.
School Planting Days make great team building activities for companies. These days allow companies to interact with and give back to communities in need, green a school, benefit from the marketing opportunities and contribute towards a greener, brighter future for South Africa. Book a plant day
Our pledgee companies support our sustainability programme and pledge trees every month. We plant these trees at our schools and send feedback and photos to them on a regular basis. Pledge trees
Members of our 12 Month Club gift trees every month and get a certificate with the GPS coordinates of where their trees are growing. Join the club
© 2011 Greenpop