IMAGINE an area clear of rubbish piles. A place with fresh food plants growing from richly watered soil and a breath of fresh air.
This is how Thobile Chittenden, CEO of The Makers Valley Partnership (MVP), an NPO that supports change-making activities began her speech.
Chittenden was speaking in front of her team, representatives of Pick-it-up, and community members who gathered in Bertrams, Joburg on 18 July.
They were there to spend their 67 minutes converting illegal dumping spots into food gardens, tree planting, and mural painting with graphics discouraging illegal dumping.
This was part of their clean-up campaign in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Nelson Mandela International Day.
She said they have seen piles of dirt on the streets of Joburg but if one person is able to stand up and fight for a cleaner environment, more people will be inspired.
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“So many times, when we are engaging in clean-up activities people give up. They don’t have hope because they can’t imagine what it will look like,” Chittenden said.
Bertrams ward councillor for 123, Masindi Mmbengwa, emphasized the need for clean-up initiatives to illuminate spaces used by drug addicts to hide drugs.
He said the sites affect children who turn to junkies and become health hazards to those living near them.
The initiative aims to focus on the environment and surrounding areas, fostering a healthy environment where even children will not dare to litter.
Community member Maria Mokeng (50) said the flats she stays in would always have piles of dirt as people dump rubbish there but now with fresh food plants, she not only wakes up to fresh greenery, but she can pick vegetables she can use for herself.
Environment and Infrastructure Service Department MMC Jack Sekwaila who was also in attendance said urged the nation to stop illegal dumping to create a world call Africa that we can be proud of.
