An interesting agreement between the Friends of Kloofendal (FroK) and City Parks was just signed in March and promises big benefits for both parties and the community’s children.
What’s been agreed upon is a win-win for both, Steve Spottiswoode told the Record during a visit to the Kloofendal Nature Reserve last week. Steve chairs FroK and signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), previously referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with vice chairman Neville Roberts and Louis Gordon from City Parks earlier in March. By the agreement, FroK will have full use of the Ecological Centre built on the reserve in 2006 (which belongs to City Parks) in exchange for hosting 10 educational sessions for children from schools in underprivileged areas per year.
This after years of back-and-forth rhetoric between the two parties regarding the correct use of the facility. Steve’s wife, Karin, who’s a qualified field guide and member of FroK, in meeting the Record, produced a document dated 6 April 2006 by which the purpose of the facility was declared. The document further declared City Parks exempt from performing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before commencing construction, which was completed in September.
“It was to be used as an ecological centre, with educational displays, for informational and educational purposes,” she explained.
Soon after it was built in 2006, City Parks allegedly hired the venue out for lavish parties, contravening all kinds of by-laws in the process. What followed was a slap on the wrist, the way Karin tells it, after which the facility has been standing empty. Promises to staff it with environmental educators never materialised, most likely due to a lack of funding and display units, she said. FroK was also to date not allowed use of the facility.
“We had dubbed another facility on the premises the FroK EE Centre, from which and by which we run a lot of our tours and walks and had our educational displays cramped in, and we were confronted regarding that as they felt the name was inappropriate and clashed with the purpose of their centre.”
According to the Spottiswoodes, it took them years to negotiate this sort of contract with City Parks, which is the first in the entity’s history. By it, FroK will host 10 educational sessions for 600 school children, or 60 per session, a year. The schools are to be identified by City Parks, who will also be responsible for arranging transport to and from the reserve, and pupils in Grade 4 and up will be eligible to learn in the reserve. Steve said their educational programme, developed over the years of FroK’s existence alongside qualified guides, already ties in with current school curriculums. FroK has even developed worksheets for the children to complete after each session.
“How much or how little the children’s adventure in the reserve will tie in with their school curriculum can and will be discussed with the individual schools closer to the time,” he said.
The non-profit organisation is currently in the process of moving its displays and display units into the previously unused Ecological Centre. Their first three display cabinets were generously donated to them by Leon Rubenstein Jewellers many years ago, Karin said. Other donations have followed and displays in terms of ecology, insects, grasses and even mining were developed since.
A date in May is currently being negotiated with City Parks for the official opening, which will be attended by the first of many groups of pupils from schools in underprivileged areas.
The Kloofendal Nature Reserve and FroK could host many more tours and guided walks, but are currently short of qualified field guides. Karin is urging guides, who have attained at least a Level 1 qualification from the Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) to contact her as soon as possible.
Ideally, the Kloofendal Ecological Centre will not only be open for school field trips but also over weekends for those who frequent the reserve or are just plain curious.
“We would like to keep the centre open for as many hours as possible over weekends,” he said.
To this end, Steve is urging nature enthusiasts who are familiar with Kloofendal Nature Reserve to volunteer their time over weekends.
The Kloofendal Nature Reserve does not solely belong to organisations like FroK and City Parks but is open to the community, the Spottiswoodes said. Among the many other walks, tours and talks hosted at the reserve, FroK will also continue to host educational sessions in the reserve for any school interested in visiting. Children must speak and understand English and be in Grade 4 or older to participate in the sessions, of which the total cost is R40 per child which includes worksheets. For more information, contact Karin on 079 693 5608 or 011 674 2980. Alternatively, visit FroK on facebook or their official website at www.kloofendalfriends.org.za
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 414 6709.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
