Pictures left: We

teamed up with

Community Hours and

the Joburg Junior

Council to “green” the

Children’s Memorial

Institute in

Braamfontein. We

helped design and

coordinate the

building of a vertical

hanging garden and

upcycling 20 tyre

chairs. All in an effort to

help improve the

aesthetics of the

building which houses

more than 20 NGO’s.

July 2018

2nd Quarterly Report 2018

(April – June)

Our Second quarter had its highs, when installing a vegetable tunnel and rainwater catchment in a

Soweto school and conducting our “Beat Plastic Pollution” campaign during the world environment

month in June, but we also had a low point when one of our team, Obert Mustshidzi, left to pursue

career growth. Luckily we were joined by Marilyn Ndhlovu a 3rd year environmental science student

for her experiential training and she has taken over much of Oberts’ roles. Though there are many

environmental challenges within the communities’ and schools we work with, our projects are

progressing nicely.

Children’s Memorial Institute – Community Hours

Children’s Memorial Institute – Community Hours

Vegetable Tunnel – Tshilidizi Primary School (Soweto) – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Pictures left: Principal Takalani addresses the volunteers from VW show of hands and Adopt -a-

school Foundation, thanking all present for their time and effort to improve the school.

Picture above right: The Eco Culture Team who coordinated the building of a vegetable tunnel

and a rainwater catchment systems.

Tshilidizi Primary School (Soweto) – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Pictures below: With the many hands available to us, we were able set up the vegetable tunnel

in one day. We started with covering the ground with cardboard to kill off the grass and weeds.

After digging out the raised beds a thick layer of mulch and compost was added before laying

the dripline and planting the seedlings.

Vegetable tunnel Tshilidizi Primary School (Soweto) – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Rainwater catchment Tshilidizi Primary School – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Pics left: Volunteer’s plant over 300

vegetable seedlings in the new

tunnel.

Pic below: The Eco Culture Team with the new tunnel and a very happy

principal.

Pictures above: We built a foundation to raise

the rainwater catchment tank which will allow

for gravity to power the irrigation, preventing

the need for a pump.

A first flush system diverts the dust and debris

from the roof from entering the collection tank.

Rainwater catchment Tshilidizi Primary School – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Indigenous garden Tshilidizi Primary School – Adopt-a-school & VW Show of Hands

Pictures: Tyres were

bolted together

then painted in

bright attractive

colours. A selection

of indigenous

flowering plants

were then planted

inside them.

Cosmo City – State of the Environment

Pic top left : Our newest member, Marilyn, tests the waters’ pH

and coliform bacteria. Pic top right : Raw sewage gushing through a school to the

nearby Zandspruit. This is an ongoing problem in Cosmo City.

Pic right : A school supposedly building a sports field. We have been heavily campaigning to get some control over

the operation which has become a major dumpsite.

Pic below right. A school which continues to dump its waste

on school property.

We are undertaking a report on the state of

the environment in Cosmo City and its Conservation area. It is increasingly

apparent that there are some major

environmental hazards and the situation

seems to be deteriorating.

The primary hazards we have identified

include long term sewerage leaks, massive illegal dumping, deforestation and gully

erosion.

We will present our findings and proposed

remedies to local government.

Cosmo City Schools – Owl Box Project

Cosmo City Schools – Green Schools Model

Picture above: A resident Barn owl in

a Cosmo city school.

Pictures right: Inspecting the owl

box’s that were installed in our

beneficiary schools. Two of which

have owls breeding inside.

We run education programmes to

dispel any superstitions.

We have managed to install a range of vegetable tunnels in our beneficiary schools.

Picture above left: Preparing the garden at Cosmo Primary One for replanting.

Picture above right: The tunnels at Secondary 1 have been replanted with their winter

vegetables.

Cosmo City Schools – Green Schools Model

Cosmo City Schools – Awareness campaigns

Picture above right: Planting Avocado trees in the schools. They will take 5 to 7 years to bear fruit.

Pictures below: Cosmo Secondary 1 recycling their old tables and chairs which will also bring an

additional source of income for the school.

Pictures above: Marilyn wrapping up a campaign to

educate the learners about water pollution and

aquatic biodiversity. Grade 6 learners were taken to

the nearby Zandspruit to conduct an outdoor hands

on workshop.

Cosmo City Schools – Awareness campaigns

Waterford Estate Servitude – Sav ing the Bushbabies

Picture above: We took part in the tribunal – with the City of Johannesburg, the town planner, the

developer and concerned residents – to decide the fate of a population of lesser bushbabies.

Eco Culture has been playing an active role in the campaign to save the last remaining

bushbaby population in Johannesburg. They currently live in a sm all servitude between East and

West Waterford estates alongside the Klein Jukskei River, which enables them to disperse along

the water course. Unfortunately a developer is pushing to build high density houses on the

servitude. This will most definitely kill off the last remaining bushbabies.

Pictures above: The last school to get the Randwater water wise show. The song and dance

presented by Rand Water always gets a great enthusiastic response from the k ids. We will

continue to bring Rand Water to our schools!

Cosmo City Schools – Green Schools Model

Cosmo City Schools – “Beat Plastic Pollution!” Env ironment Month Awareness Campaign

Picture below: Tshepo building a small wall to prevent water and silt from flooding the recycling

depot at Cosmo City West Primary School. The school was really struggling to maintain their

recycling depot and we are pushing the schools to improve their waste management and

recycling programmes.

For this year’s environment month campaign we focused our attention on combating plastic

pollution. To bring this message to the school going youth, we invited several guests from other

organisations to address them at their assembly. The schools’ pupils w ere invited to take part in a

plastic upcycling competition and the 30 winners from each school were awarded at the same

assembly.

Picture below: The winners from each school received a stationary pack, beany and gloves.

Cosmo City Schools – “Beat Plastic Pollution!” Env ironment Month Awareness Campaign

Pictures above: Speakers from Green

Peace Africa, Destination Green and

Plastics SA and our own Eco Culture Team

spoke to more than 4000 children about

the impact that plastics are having on our

environment. We aim to change

behaviour to properly dispose of waste

and recycle. If possible say “NO” to single

use plastic!

Cosmo City Schools – “Beat Plastic Pollution!” Env ironment Month Awareness Campaign

Picture above: Rakee from

Woem apartments hands out

prizes to the winners.

Picture above right: Marilyn

judges the items based on

plastic usage, functionality

and creativity.

Donations from Woem

apartments, Beanie’s For

Beings and Glen Stat

stationaries made it possible

to run the campaign.

Cosmo City Schools – “Beat Plastic Pollution!” Env ironment Month Awareness Campaign

Pictures: The participant’s upcycled a

wide range of plastic into various items.

There were many strong handbags

made from weaving plastic shopping

bags. A few great pieces of art and

some very functional planters and cups.

A big thanks to our sponsors, supporters and stakeholders

(Not in any particular order)