Nomkhita Mona
The UDDI Plant a tree Project has set themselves a launch target of planting 2 100 fruit trees in 13 wards throughout Uitenhage Despatch, creating job opportunities for 300 community members with the kick-start of the programme during the month of November until December.
It’s all systems go for the UDDI’s Fruit Tree Planting Programme, which will see 2100 fruit trees being planted all over Uitenhage and Despatch as part of the launch phase of this programme.
“Driven as a special project by the Office of the CEO, the vision is to see that over time every household in the UD area has a fruit tree. The benefit of this not only has a positive impact on the environment, but is beneficial for food security and greening of local communities”, said Nomkhita Mona – UDDI CEO.
This project follows the successful Enviro Campaign which educated over 1 700 citizens throughout Nelson Mandela Bay about environmental issues with emphasis on recycling, greening and food security. Over the next month 300 community members will be trained by NMBM Environmental Services Education Department on digging, planting and nurturing of the trees. In turn they will educate the participating households, and participating households will each receive a tree to plant in their backyard.
“Special focus will be given to the Despatch area where an additional 800 trees will be planted in partnership with DEDEAT. This programme coincides with the bigger UDDI / DEDEAT Eco Hub Project, which will see Despatch (Khayamnandi) as the first township to boast an Eco Hub”, said Mona – UDDI CEO.
This hub will consist of a recycling centre, eco play park, communal garden, compost farm and micro venture green industries incubator. The Eco Hub Pilot project in Despatch is the first of showcasing how one can transform illegal dumpsites in the townships, into a controlled area demonstrating how communities can develop sustainable clusters to produce vegetables, using the natural and waste resources in their surrounds. It aims to reduce illegal dumping, by providing communities with alternative uses for these public open spaces.
The pilot project is rolled out as a demonstration centre in partnership with DEDEAT and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
