Newsletter -- OCTOBER 2004

ROOTS & SHOOTS GAUTENG

Hooray – summer is here but it doesn’t seem possible that we have already reached that hectic time of year when schools are busy with end-of-year plays and Christmas activities.

We have realised that this is not a good time of year to plan events that need to be incorporated into your school schedule and we will therefore try to plan a Roots & Shoots 2005 Calendar of Events that does not clash with your other activities. The 2005 Calendar Events will be sent out this year in order to assist schools with planning events for next year.

As you know we cancelled the ROOTS & SHOOTS INDABA that was scheduled for September. This will be re-scheduled for early in 2005. At the INDABA we would like to discuss projects relating to the environment, community and animals that groups can undertake on a national level together.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

We did get a response to our request for information about your specific activities from various groups.

UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND

Roots & Shoots at Wits were very active this year and were involved in a number of activities, as follows:

Orientation Week
They set up a stand at orientation week and Dr Maria Fernandez gave a presentation about the importance of recycling.

Cotlands Orphanage
The Roots & Shoots group spent a day cleaning at Cotlands (and they spent lots of time playing with the children).

Earth Day in Somoho
The group spent Earth Day in Somoho cleaning up grass and thickets. Somoho gave them 6 trees for planting at Wits in order to strengthen their relationship.

Recycling Points at Wits
4 recycling points have been set up close to restaurants. These were promoted to staff via internal mail and to students through a campaign with a DJ where prizes were given out for activities such as sorting ‘clean’ rubbish and depositing it in the correct bin. The campaign has been a great success !

Students sorting ‘clean’ rubbish as part of a fun campaign to promote recycling!!		Roots & Shoots promoting collection points for paper, plastic, tins and glass

Recycling Centre for students and staff
This centre was set up in June and caters for glass, paper, plastic as well as cans and has been set up for students and staff as a collection point for the items collected and sorted at home.

Eco-breakfast Talks
Wits Eco-drive, where Roots & Shoots actively participates in all activities, organized two eco-breakfasts during 2004 which consisted of a sponsored breakfast and a presentation by a guest speaker on environmental issues. There was a very positive response to the talks and many new volunteers joined the Eco-drive committee and Roots and Shoots.
Well done Wits!! You have certainly had a busy year with some big projects that will have a positive impact on the environment.

HEADWAY

This Roots & Shoots group planted about 50 Anisodontea seedlings in pots. Some of these were planted at Headway and others were swopped with Kyalami Prep and Beaulieu Prep. This is a wonderful way to interact with other schools. Beaulieu have taken some photographs of the planting of the ir trees and these will be sent to Headway.
We are sure that this was a fun activity for Headway. Well Done!!

THE TALON SOCIETY, HUDSON PARK SCHOOL in EAST LONDON

For arbour week this group raised money by selling boerewors rolls and bought 2 aloe trees for their sister school, Bongulethu. The aloes were taken to Bongulethu where they helped to plant them. The children were also given little cups with peace messages and they were delighted!! The Talon Society has also raised money to sponsor a cage at the SPCA and have held an SPCA day where children bring food for the animals.
Excellent news!! It’s great to have you on board!!

ROOTS & SHOOTS – NORTH WEST

Buller Sello has set up a Roots & Shoots group in North West and they have started with a Tree planting project.
Welcome and we wish you great success! We look forward to hearing about your 2005 activities!!

CLAW (Community Lead Animal Welfare)

Roots & Shoots distributed many Easter eggs through CLAW and they have sent us some updated information about their activities:

Photo: Mpendulo, a CLAW education officer, with some of the children from Sol Plaatjie informal settlement.

CLAW has just completed their second holiday programme for the children of Sol Plaatjie informal settlement and Braanfisherville. The subjects covered include: environmental awareness, kindness and respect for animals as well as basic vegetable gardening. The children thoroughly enjoyed the programme. Many of the children come from destitute homes and CLAW managed to deed them once a day.
Fantastic CLAW!! Keep up the good work! Hopefully some of our Roots & Shoots will be able to assist you again during 2005!!

FOOD GARDENS

Have any schools set up a food garden yet ???
Please supply us with details

IDEAS FOR ANIMAL PROJECTS

If you need ideas for 2005 about projects relating to animals, please visit IFAW’s (International Fund for Animal Welfare) website: www.ifaw.org. They have lots of interesting material to assist groups.

PARTNERSHIP IN UNDERSTANDING IN AFRICA

Should any groups be interested in forming a partnership with a group from another country in Africa, where you exchange ideas and news, please contact us and we’ll find a suitable match.

PEACE DAY CELEBRATIONS

The Roots & Shoots PEACE DAY celebrations on 21 September were not supported on a regional basis but the co-ordinators attended the celebration with the groups in Somoho.

ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR SCHOOL AND YOUTH GROUPS

We received an e-mail about the Volvo Adventure Award for existing and new environmental action projects. The closing date for entries is January 2005 so if you are interested in registering an environmental project for your school or group, please visit their website (volvoadventure.org) to find out more details.

‘CHRISTMAS CRACKER CHEER’ PICNIC

Please let us know by Friday, 15 October whether your school will be attending the picnic. If this date is not convenient we will re-schedule it for 2005 at a time that is less hectic!! Even if your school is unable to attend the picnic, perhaps you can still make crackers with a small gift and Christmas message and we will arrange for them to be given to a charity.

Kind regards,

Sue and Di

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P.O. Box 166, Morningside, 2057, Republic of South Africa

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