A #GreaterMelvilleInitiative that brings change
MELVILLE – The initiative, which has only been up and running for a few months, has brought clean streets to its community.
Inspired by Felicity Lawlor-Getz’s Let’s Work initiative, Jovana Korac started #GreaterMelvilleInitiative, a project that makes sure the streets of Melville are cleaned up.
For Women’s Day, they decided to clean up all around Melpark Primary School and several adjoining streets around the school. A firm believer in active and compassionate citizenry, Korac wanted to help create a neighbourhood and community that all residents, business owners and other stakeholders can be proud of.
The idea came about as a way for the community to help support a local, Innocent, who is affectionately known as Books. “Innocent is well-known in Melville and sells books on 7th Avenue to support his family in Soweto,” explained Korac, adding that like many in our communities, Covid-19 disrupted his major source of income stream.
Though the community donated to him, it was not sustainable and Korac wanted to create a sustainable income stream for him that he could be proud of. “So I bought some high-visibility vests, gloves, rakes and black bags.”
Just like that, the initiative started.
It has been running for some months now, with Korac and community members sponsoring when they can. When residents sponsor a day’s clean, they are asked which specific part of Melville they would like cleaned and Innocent attends to it. Otherwise, a spot is picked and attended to. “I’m always on the lookout for areas that need a little TLC. So far, we have managed to get enough donations that Innocent’s cousin Siya also joins us,” said Korac.
Innocent and Siya have done every single clean-up held so far and Korac is trying to garner enough interest from community members and local businesses in order to make this a weekly income opportunity for the pair.
Clean-ups are mainly done along Main Road as they have a problem with repeated dumping at particular intersections which they proactively address. “A single stretch of road, less than a kilometre, produces around 15 black bags of rubbish at every clean-up,” explained Korac.
They have cleaned up substations, spaces around churches and schools and high-traffic areas. She said Melville is a high pedestrian suburb and, sadly, sometimes a lot of rubbish accumulates as result.
In Korac’s opinion, service delivery and joblessness are two major issues faced in our country. She believes small initiatives like this help solve these problems quickly and efficiently with the benefit of a cleaner environment for residents and businesses alike. The initiative is supported by the Melville Residents Association and assisted by Auckland Park Residents Association who often help clear bags of rubbish accumulated.
Residents can also volunteer by reaching out on the Facebook page I Love Melville using the hashtag #GreateMelvilleInitiative or #GMI. Those who do not have the time can support by either donating money, refuse bags, lunch or old garden tools they no longer use. “If we have more hands and support we can start tackling overgrown and unsafe sidewalks, and residents have requested that we also clear storm water drains in the rainy season.”
She added that with some aspects they would first need to get approval from the ward councillor first.
