Trash will
soon become treasure in Clanwilliam thanks to a partnership between EcoBricks,
Cederberg Municipality and the local community.
Friday (19
November) sees the launch of the Clanwilliam EcoBricks Challenge through which
EcoBricks will be created from plastic waste. The project aims to address the
waste issue facing so many communities and provide local residents with the
invaluable opportunity to come together and effect far-reaching beneficial
change for themselves and generations to come.
“Friday is
also ‘World Citizen Day’,” says Michelle Korevaar, founder of ChangeMakers Hub
– the non-profit organisation spearheading the Clanwilliam EcoBricks Challenge.
“This day
reminds us how our actions as individuals impact our global human family and
how many small ripples can add up to the wave of change that we need to help
both people and the planet prosper.”
The
partnership with the Cederberg Municipality will conclude on 31 October 2022.
According
to Acting Municipal Manager, Andries Titus it important to remember local
communities are part of a global landscape. “As a municipality we mustn’t fail
to forget that we form part of the global community. This project will serve as
a gateway into that very same community and will guarantee that our voice in a
fight for a healthier ecosystem will be heard,” Titus said.
The
initiative will see the EcoBricks used to build a legacy garden in the town,
complete with benches – “a living tribute of the exceptional achievements that
can happen when people come together for good and to provide a neutral and
sacred place to focus on our togetherness despite our differences”.
The goal
is to use 20 000 EcoBricks to build the garden benches, thereby turning 40 000
litres of compacted plastic into something beautiful and of value to the
community.
“We are in
full support of not only the project itself but in particular the opportunities
it unlocks such as skills development, employment, tourism sector development
and the beautification of our towns,” says Titus. “This is something our local
communities can be proud of and the legacy garden will serve as a monument for
days to come.”
Bradley
Zass, Tourism Development Officer comments that the project is also a way to
raise awareness of the deteriorating ecosystem.
To
encourage and inspire the local community, ChangeMakersHub will award weekly,
monthly and quarterly prizes with a grand finale prize awarded to the most
active citizens at the end of the challenge
“We invite
all members of Clanwilliam – its citizens, schools, business and all other
entities and organisations within the area to commit to and take part in this
ground-breaking initiative for the betterment of all,” says Korevaar. In the
coming weeks and months various initiatives will be rolled out within the area
to empower, upskill and assist community members as they take up the challenge
to turn waste to treasure, she added.
Anyone looking to get
involved or find out more can visit startaripple@changemakershub.org
or call 082 556 4574.
