GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The residents of the Vrygronde informal settlement in Graaff-Reinet, in collaboration with the Camdeboo National Park and Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), dedicated five days to the environment in celebration of Earth Day.
Earth Day is a globally coordinated event on 22 April annually to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was celebrated for the first time on 22 April 1970 and is now celebrated by an estimated 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.
A delegation from Vrygronde visited the Camdeboo National Park for team building and an information session on the ecosystem, the impact of pollution on the environment, and the importance of protecting the environment.
The Vrygronde residents dedicated Earth Day to cleaning up their community.
Twelve members of the Vrygronde community also had the opportunity to spend the night in the park’s camp site. Earth Day was dedicated to cleaning up in the Vrygronde community and the theme of the day was “restoring our environment to restore our dignity.”
On Friday, 23 April 2021, the Vrygronde community launched their newly established agro-ecological hub. Rosemary Scheepers, Socio Economic Transformation Officer of the Camdeboo National Park, explained the ecological value of Spekboom, and demonstrated to the youth how Spekboom cuttings should be prepared and planted.
This was the first plant variety that was planted in the hub.
Vrygronde youth participating in the team building and information session at the Camdeboo National Park.
The Vrygronde residents ended off their 2021 Earth Day celebrations by participating in the Camdeboo National Park’s snare hunt on Saturday, 24 April 2021.
An agreement was reached between the Camdeboo National Park and the Vrygronde residents that identified members of this community will be on the lookout for snares and will voluntarily guard the park against vandals and thieves who damage and steal the park’s fencing.
Rosemary Scheepers explained the ecological value of Spekboom, and demonstrated to the youth how Spekboom cuttings should be prepared and planted.
The Vrygronde residents would like to express their gratitude towards isuRommel who assisted in the cleaning up on Earth Day, as well as the Camdeboo National Park and SCLC who supported the Vrygronde Earth Day celebrations.
Photos: Chriszanne Janse van Vuuren
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