The people from the South have huge hearts. When it comes to making a difference they are the front-runners.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Department of Nature Conservation is involved in a community project based in Northern Maputoland, KZN. It is 650km from Johannesburg. The distance is not stopping the South from assisting a community that used to be known as the forgotten community. Ndumo is situated on the border of Swaziland and Mozambique.
In 2000, TUT initiated the Ndumo Community Project. The project was implemented to educate the local community about the importance of taking care of the environment and to lessen the human ecological footprint.
The project works with school learners, as well as community ladies and men. During the June/July school holidays, TUT presented a programme to grade 7 and 8 school learners and women from the area. They were taken to Ndumo Game Reserve and given a lecture on the impact of superstitions on the environment and how to say ‘no’ to poaching and the negative impacts of subsistence poaching.
A hungry learner cannot be educated, so TUT approached the South for help as two staff members involved in the project come from the South, Bassonia and Mondeor.
The learners were also given breakfast, which consisted of peanut butter and jam sandwiches and fruit juice. After the programme they were also given lunch of meat, rice, maize meal, baked beans, beetroot and the like.
The nutritious breakfasts and lunches would not have been possible if the South didn’t step in and save the day. TUT would like to give special thanks to Bruno (Pick n Pay Mulbarton) as well as Jorge (John Morrison Panelbeaters) and their businesses, for their donations for the June/July holiday programme at Ndumo.
Ndumo is also an area where the community lives below the breadline. Most families battle to feed and clothe their families. The project would also like to thank Waterstone College for the donated clothing which helped keep our learners warm.
We would also like to thank Dr Basil Kransdorff from Econocom foods for the huge donation of e’Pap. This miracle pap is saving lives at Ndumo. Six tons were delivered to Ndumo.
All we can say is the South definitely rocks! If you would like any more information on the project please visit our Facebook page (Ndumo Community Project) and become friends.
If you would like to assist with any donations please contact Cheryl Ogilvie (Manager of the Ndumo Community Project) on 083 267 6223, office 012 382 5167 or email: ogilviecl@tut.ac.za.
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