Lotus High School was abuzz with pride as Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis visited the school to present Civic Pride Awards to members of its Eco Club, recognising their service to the community and environment.
The ceremony saw the Mayor handing over certificates to learners who have become champions of environmental awareness and civic responsibility.
Partnership
In partnership with the Princess Vlei Forum the club actively participates in fynbos restoration, wetland conservation, community clean-ups and recycling initiatives.
Led by dedicated educator Shafiek Isaacs and supported by Principal Winston Elroy Solomons, the club has transformed neglected spaces – clearing areas overrun with weeds and invasive Port Jackson trees, greening the school grounds, and restoring dignity to their surrounds.
Addressing the assembly, Mayor Hill-Lewis said the award was about celebrating everyday heroes.
Explaining the ethos behind the Civic Pride Award, he said: “I am passionate about building our city and making it better for everyone in every single community. But I’m very aware that it cannot only be the city or the government that does that. We have got so many challenges in our society in South Africa that if we keep it all or expect only government to do everything, it will never, ever get fully solved.”
“The way that we build a truly successful society, the way that we build a truly wonderful city, is if everyone gets involved.”
Pouring back into community
The Mayor said in every community he meets people running street kitchens with their own money, and neighbourhood watch members patrolling at 2am and 3am unpaid, simply because they love their communities.
“I think people like that are real heroes in our city. I want to recognise people like that and celebrate them and put them on a pedestal and say we need many more people like that,” he said.
He also spoke of his personal campaign to clean up Cape Town, little by little, with mascot Binny, urging everyone to pick up litter or simply tell someone not to litter.
Revealing the scale of the competition, the Mayor told Lotus High: “We received hundreds of nominations from councillors, we ask every council in the city. And out of all of them, we selected Lotus High. So you can be very, very proud.”
He praised the school’s dramatically improved academic results as testament to the school’s leadership, the staff, and learner discipline.
“When I walked into the gate this morning, I see this beautiful garden in front of me… I see the school is neat and tidy. I see how neat you look… I can see that this is a school that is headed in the right direction.”
For the Mayor, the Eco Club stood out because it gets youth outside, away from phones and TV games, to enjoy Cape Town’s natural beauty while doing physical, meaningful work.
He concluded with special thanks to Mr. Isaacs “for your leadership, for your volunteer spirit” and to all Lotus learners involved in the project.
