For a few months local students participated in the Youth Environmental Services (Yes) training programme. Work included aftercare homework support and sport at Zinzele in Blanco; working in the community with knitting projects; working at church and crèche food gardens; and planting shrubs at the entrance of Blanco as part of a greening project.
The Yes project is funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and implemented by Wessa. "Yes students helped to build a nursery in Geelhoutboom as part of the 'Le Jardin' project in Blanco under the leadership of Alewijn Dippenaar," explained Wessa's Educational Officer, Lorraine McGibbon.
"The Yes participants have been working at host organisations since March this year, seeing me when they do modules of the accredited course. They also worked in the communities as part of Youth Month (June). A group of Yes students were taken on a tour of the Klein Karoo with geology enthusiast Paul Rixom and were also given a two day bird identification course organised and paid for by Wessa. McGibbon emphasised that public funds (donated) were put to good use to help fund the aforementioned outings and projects.
At the 'Le Jardin' project on a Blanco farm owned by Johannesburg businessman Peter Schleiss, a group of seven Yes participants worked with Alewijn Dippenaar to put up shading netting for a nursery. This charity project includes accommodation for women who are "at a crossroads in their life". They also learnt that a restaurant and accommodation is being established in the area.
Local Yes students developed vegetable beds and set up a nursery at the 'Le Jardin' project on a Blanco farm. Godfrey Lebodi is on the stepladder fixing the shade cloth. From left: Miranda Penya, Sesethu Sakali, Xolelwa Grootboom and Sinazo Sizani.
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