Tenacity of little eco-warriors from Helenvale, rewarded
Published: July 02, 2023<< BACK TO NEWS
An impromptu clean-up operation, started by primary school learners from Helenvale, when they saw an adult littering, earned them an unexpected trip to the Simbonga Game Farm and Animal Sanctuary close to the Gamtoos River.
However, an exclusive Safari was the furthest from
their minds when the determined eco-warriors grabbed spades and tackled an imposing
embankment along an approximately 1 kilometre stretch of road, for the school
holiday.
Grade 6-learner Jade-Lynn Swartz recalls how they resumed
their work on the Saturday, when an Uncle (Die Oom) stopped and approached them.
"We first thought that we were going to get scolded
for cleaning up and planting succulents, but were relieved when he took a video
and said he will come back and get someone to bring us rubbish bags and brooms,”
recounts the 11-year-old Bayview Primary learner.
"Die Oom,” also known as the Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk, called in the cavalry to assist
the tenacious patriots. Soon, blue trash bags were moving up and down the
embankment like feverish little ants, after a Public Health Directorate
employee brought them along.
Mayor Van Niekerk says everything fell into place when
veteran Radio DJ and Podcaster Daron Mann told him about an initiative by Warriors
of Wildlife founder, Lionel de Lange, to expose children to wildlife conservation.
The initiative and selflessness of the young children immediately
came to mind, and an exclusive day trip to the Gamtoos River during the school
holidays took shape.
The sacrifice of a school holiday for the common good
will now become an opportunity to see rescued tigers, lions and other animals
in their natural habitat.
Daron Mann and Mayor Van Niekerk shared the news to
loud applause on Friday.
"We just want to reward the initiative of the children
for cleaning up. We will arrange a trip, in conjunction with the Office of our
Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk. We will give them something to eat and drink
and they will be able to see the animals up close in their natural habitat,”
Mann said.
Although they obviously loved the surprise, the
children went about their business by grabbing lunch at a nearby soup kitchen,
set up for them and the nearby residents. Like the determined little workers
they are, the youngsters ate at the embankment, where they are determined to
finish what they started.
Asked where the idea came from, Jade-Lynn says that it
is how they are taught at school.
"We always clean at our school,” the resolute young
leader said.
The majority of the children are from Bayview and
Fontein Primary schools.
Ends
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