Arbor Day Initiatives

Green Communities used the month of September to roll out Greening and Tree- Planting initiatives at schools in the Western Cape. Last year, we targeted 5 schools in Athlone thanks to donations of trees received from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DAFF).

This year, we were able to implement Arbor initiatives at ten (10) schools in Wesbank and Delft and five (5) schools and two (2) educare centres in Samora Machel. Thanks to DAFF and donations received from Just Trees and Shadowlands, we were able to plant trees at all these schools. Furthermore, Green Communities, in conjunction with the schools and its learners, implemented gardens for the Grade R learners, as well as the greening of open spaces at the educare centres in Samora Machel. Arbor events are such a wonderful way to kick-start greening initiatives at Cape Town schools. At Green Communities, we realise the value of gardens and green open spaces for young children as it provides them with a place to play, explore, and be healthy. It has been theorised and proven that gardens and medicinal and educational plants at primary schools and educare centres assist children at ECD (Early Childhood Development) level and Grades 1-3 in tactile and sensory development.

It is in this way that Green Communities plans to initiate greening interventions at schools so as to gear movement towards a healthy and happy environment for all.

Through our experiences with the schools and learners, we have found that the involvement in preparing the garden or planting the tree is often paramount to the success of the greening intervention, as learners hold themselves responsible for the upkeep of the gardens and trees. We use an awareness and information-sharing programme pertaining to the environment as a means of entrenching these behaviours and ideologies in the children of our communities.

It is in this way that we begin to pave the way for our children to lead themselves into an environment that is clean, green and healthy, as well as assist in the development of an appreciation for our green open spaces and natural resources. Through realising the value and benefits of trees and green spaces for our children, we can contribute to creating the space necessary for nurturing healthy growth and development.