Trees give hope to Western Cape community

On the eve of the distribution of 288 Trees for Homes, Ottery resident, Ms Faith Meyer says “The moral fibre of our society has been degenerating over the years and it needs to be instilled back into our communities. Every community has the opportunity to work together and become a great success and it starts with you and me. Let us work together towards a better future for our children.”

Ms Meyer hopes that the distribution and planting of these trees will bring the community together to improve their environment and create a more civil and healthy settlement in the southern suburbs of the Western Cape. Ottery Marbel has been in existence for over 40 years. The majority of the community is unemployed and many of the young people are sadly involved in gangs and drugs, and there is a high prevalence also of teenage pregnancy. Parents have given up hope and realize the importance that something positive gets implemented in this community.

FaxPlatform is a telecommunications company who chose as its primary service offering to offer a traditional fax replacement system. The development of technology in this environment was spurred on based on the ability of the system to prevent paper waste, and rather give the fax user the ability to receive faxes electronically.
FaxPlatform has thus prevented the printing of over 100 million A4 pages, or equivalent to over 14,000 trees, over the past 3.5 years and has thus engaged with FTFA to make funds available for the planting of trees for this paper saved. For every 7,000 faxes received FaxPlatform will make R70 available for the planting of a tree from mid 2009.
In 2008 FaxPlatform donated 310 trees to Food & Trees for Africa to distribute through their Trees for Homes programme. The first 85 fruit and nut trees, celebrating the reduction in paper usage by faxes going straight to email, were planted on 28th December 2008 in the rural village of Naledi near Ficksberg in the Eastern Free State where the residents are now eagerly awaiting the fruit and nuts these will bear, contributing to healthier nutrition.

Mr Godfrey Radloff, a long time supporter of national greening social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa, has added a further 63 trees for the residents of Ottery Marbel.

Eight community members have received planting and tree maintenance training and are moving through their Ottery suburbs visiting their neighbours to invite them to come and collect these trees to plant in their yards. They are communicating the importance of trees in our lives as related to the environment, our settlements and enhanced suburbs. Over time these trees will settle the dust, provide shade, attract birds and other creatures, help to quell noise and generally improve the aesthetics of Ottery.

On 18th April 2009 the residents will gather at Ottery Community Centre to celebrate receiving indigenous trees and taking them home to plant. Should you wish to attend this event or require further information on this initiative please contact Ms Joanne Rolt on (011) 803 9750, joanne@trees.org.za or Ms Faith Meyer on 073 214 6850.