New environmental project to empower locals underway
WAVERLEY – The cleanup means that no one runs the risk of standing on dangerous building scraps, such as nails or broken glass.
Community parenting portal BabyYumYum has been creating greener environments for children and their parents in the Johannesburg north-eastern suburbs.
This began with the public parking lot which serves as an overflow for the community centre at the corner of Scott Street and Corlett Drive in Waverley.
According to the organisers, many of the public spaces have been abandoned and ill-used by some residents, and BabyYumYum is utilising them for better purposes.
Amanda Rogaly, the parenting platform’s founder and chief mommy, said that the Waverley space had become hazardous for users, especially for children using the area.
“Because this is a public space, no one was prepared to take ownership of it, saying that it is someone else’s responsibility.
“The area, which was being used by moms and kids, had become an overgrown dumping ground, with dangerous building rubble making the space inaccessible.”
Instead of pointing fingers and sitting back and waiting for someone else to assume responsibility, the members of BabyYumYum decided that it was time to tackle this issue independently.
Rogaly said, “With an ethos of looking after the best interests of the community and families, BabyYumYum took action, sponsoring a gardening team to clean up this area and remove the refuse and rubble.”
Now that the grass has been cut and the rubble removed, there are extra parking bays available, meaning that more people can park in the parking area, rather than in the road.
“The cleanup means that no one runs the risk of standing on dangerous building scraps, such as nails or broken glass.
“Most importantly, it allows the community to regain its pride, and encourages people to take ownership of public spaces, which are there to be shared by all.”
She said that the area’s transformation also gives a positive, proactive message to kids, teaching them the value and significance of creating clean, greener environments.
The BabyYumYum community has committed to keeping this space clean with a monthly clean up to ensure the safety of the kids and parents that use this facility.
As a community portal, Rogaly said they hope to create further awareness through the ethos of #EmpoweredParents and #SharingIsCaring, highlighting how each one of us can positively impact the communal environment.
Details: BabyYumYum 011 883 1802.
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