DUT CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION VISITED TWO PARTNER SCHOOLS TO PLANT TREES AND HOST A WORKSHOP
In celebration of the National Arbour Week recently, the innobiz Durban University of Technology (DUT) Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation visited two of their partner schools; KwaMpungose Higher Primary School and Amakholwa High School in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg to plant trees and a workshop on the importance of the week.
National Arbour Week is an opportune time for all South Africans, schools, and organisations to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management as a result of being barren due to the effects of desertification and urbanisation.
The planting ceremony at KwaMpungose was opened by Mr Khothatso Memela, Community Engagement Officer at innobiz, who mentioned the significance and importance of Arbour Week.
“It is up to us to take care of the environment for those that are to come, and planting trees is one of many ways in which we are contributing to sustaining our environment for future generations,” he said.
Memela further encouraged the learners to peer-encourage their friends to do the same as a ripple effect of what innobiz was doing.
Joining Memela was Dr Swatson, innobiz Agricultural Specialist, who explained to the learners the different kinds of soil that are needed in planting and what to look out for when choosing an area to plant trees. His talk also included a brief explanation of the trees that were being planted.
“We are grateful that the innobiz Centre continues to contribute to the bettering of our school, and even going as far as getting their hands dirty to the benefit of our school. This is exactly what a partnership should be about, all parties winning”, these were remarks given by the principal of Amakholwa High School, Mr Mthokozisi Chonco.
The innobiz team then had a question and answer session, with students also expressing their knowledge on wetlands, tree planting, and on programmes that the Centre offers to them.
The same programme took place at KwaMpungose Higher Primary School where the principal gratefully welcomed the innobiz team.
Prof Keolebogile Motaung, CEO of innobiz said, “Such initiatives are there to not only strengthen the partnership we have with our immediate community but to also remember the social responsibility we have as a Centre.”
The trees were generously donated to the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, a partner to the Centre.
Pictured: Learners learning more about the significance and importance of Arbour Week.
Linda Antonnete Lindani