Passionate volunteers keep rivers and streams clean [PHOTOS]

They also run a successful community vegetable garden.

November 16, 2015

Jenny Bipat 2 minutes read

Volunteers of Emvelo Wise are passionate about cleaning-up rivers and streams.

A GROUP of women and men of Folweni who call themselves, ‘Emvelo Wise’ are so passionate about their environment, they can be found cleaning the streams and rivers every day.

Having started with 15 volunteers five years ago, the numbers quickly grew to 395, but now sees about 100 volunteers, not only wading in the streams and rivers removing rubbish and alien vegetation, but also working in a large community vegetable garden.

The brainchild of the non-profit organisation is co-founder Bongi Khanyile who was dismayed to see the polluted streams and rivers and was motivated to clean-up the area “I grew up in Harding on the South Coast. I was used to clean rivers, where I could swim and fish. But when I moved to Folweni, it was a different situation. I asked myself what must I do, what is my role here, because we can’t survive without the environment.”

The organisation’s motto is ‘love yourself, love your neighbour, love your environment’.
The idea for Emvelo Wise was born in 2010 after floods affected streams in Folweni, many of which flow among the houses. Having quickly garnered support from volunteers, it launched in 2011 and continues to grow from strength to strength with the support of municipal, government and business concerns.

In the early days, DSW came on board and encouraged the group to clean the streams and to adopt a river. They have since worked tirelessly in two rivers, Golokodo in Folweni and Ezimbokodweni.

‘love yourself, love your neighbour, love your environment’.

In 2013, the organisation placed first in the environmental category of the Mayor’s Excellence Award and received a R10,000 cash prize and a laptop.
The Umbogintwini Industrial Complex also came on board to help Emvelo Wise . “I recommended to AECI head office to assist the project as part of its social responsibility. They donated garden tools to the value of R30,000,” said Acacia Operation Services’ Nomali Msomi.

The tools are well used in the garden, which is based close to Folweni community hall. The land was previously a dumping ground and the NPO approached the department of housing to whom it belonged, to turn it into a veggie garden.

The department of environmental affairs came on board, fenced the plot and provided a mobile office. A variety of vegetables are planted such as yams, spinach, beetroot, onion and potatoes and sold in the community.

The volunteers are paid a stipend by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
AECI also stepped in to provide training. Over two weeks in July, 16 people were trained in governance, business plans, proposals and other aspects. This was followed up with more training on business plans in September.

“The group is committed. Many municipal sections are using Emvelo Wise as a case study. Hopefully, it motivates others to start similar projects,” said Nomali.
UIC also benefits from the project, as it draws water for use in the complex from the Ezimbokodweni River.

“All our original volunteers are still part of the project today. We are committed and encourage others to take the initiative and do the same in their communities,” said Bongi.
Emvelo Wise is in need of office furniture for its mobile office. If able to help, call Bongi on 078-205-4041.