Ahead of the International Day of Forest next week, Thobeka Primary School in Meadowlands Zone 6, Soweto, planted fruit trees on Friday.
In partnership with Food & Trees for Africa, and P&G, schoolchildren planted 50 trees at the school – 30 fruit trees and 20 indigenous for shade.
Together, Food & Trees for Africa, and P&G plan to plant 1 000 trees in 20 schools in Gauteng.
Thobela Primary School was the first of the schools, where learners got their hands dirty as they participated in planting trees – an initiative that will contribute to clean air in SA.
These trees will eventually offset 369 tonnes of carbon dioxide in their lifetime, whilst providing shade, increasing biodiversity, and providing access to fresh fruit for local communities.
All the selected schools will receive indigenous shade and fruit trees donated by P&G.
Speaking at the occasion, Thobela Primary School Deputy Principal, Manqoba Kubheka, welcomed the planting of trees.
Kubheka said tree planting helps learners understand the environment.
“We are grateful to be the chosen school as this will help learners understand and learn more about trees and how to grow them and what is the importance of it,” Kubheka said.
“We welcome the planting of trees today and we are hoping that it will change our lives for the better.”
The climate is changing as humans pump an unprecedented amount of carbon into the atmosphere.
Scientists warn that South Africa will be particularly hard hit by climate change.
That is why Food & Trees for Africa and P&G have moved to help green communities with shady indigenous trees that sequester carbon (suck the gas out of the atmosphere).
Jeminah Seqela a senior facilitator at Food and Trees for Africa said: “We hoping to achieve or maybe we can put it on an educational element because we have this problem of climate change in our society.
“That’s why we want to plant as many trees as we can, especially for the school that wants to use them as part of their educational programmes.
“Trees provide us with shade, give us oxygen, and sustainable gardening with the 30 fruits trees that are going to be planted in their garden.”
P&G’s Senior HR director in South Africa, Tarryn Allie, shared insights into the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability ahead of the International Day of Forest on Thursday, (21 March 2024), under the theme “Forests and Innovation”.
P&G Senior HR Director South Africa Tarryn Allie shares insights into the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability ahead of the International Day of Forest on Thursday next week, (21 March 2024).
Allie said: “Today we come together not to only celebrate the spirit of the environment, but also the significance of Human Rights Day.
“It is an honour for P&G to be here with Food & Trees For Africa to demonstrate our commitment to being a cause for growth and a cause for good in communities where we operate.
“In alignment with the United Nations’s theme ‘Forest and Innovation’ for 2024, we at P&G are stepping up to play our part in protecting our planet and our homes.
“This Forest For Good initiative will see 1 000 trees, the equivalent of one forest being planted across 20 schools in selected communities starting here today.”
Allie also emphasised the significance of small actions such as planting a tree in not only helping protect the environment but its profound impact on society as a whole.
“As we witness the growth of these trees over time, let it serve as a reminder of the growth and progress we can achieve as a society when we work together,” she said.
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