"We are hoping to change the mindset of the children so that they will be able to see that there is value in what others see as rubbish, but having 240 children arrive goes far beyond our wildest expectations," exclaimed Tooley.
Jennifer and her husband Anthony had wanted to give back to the community and decided that teaching children how to recycle while also introducing them to the idea of saving would be the perfect way.
"The children bring clean bottles, plastic goods and any other recycling items to us. We weigh these and they are then awarded points for their recycled goods. Armed with these points they may then enter the Smutsville Swop Shop where they can swop their points for goods. Should there be an item that they want but don't have enough points for, their points can be carried over until they have saved enough to buy the item. Their first lesson in saving," explained Anthony.
During November 2013 the idea of the swop shop was first brought up at a Ward 1 meeting where, according to Anthony, the community reacted with enthusiasm. The Tooleys then spent some time researching other swop shops in the area, "to learn from their past mistakes", said Anthony. All goods in the swop shop are donated by community members and institutions.
The shop is stocked with a variety of goods from stationery, toiletries, clothing to toys and more. Many a young child entering the shop armed with their points looked a little bewildered as they struggled to grasp that their points were equal to money in this shop.
The Smutsville Swop Shop, situated at the Sedgefield Primary School in Smutsville, is open every Wednesday and recyclable goods such as glass, plastic, tins and paper goods will be accepted. "The only pre-requisite is that the recycled goods are clean. If they aren't, no points will be awarded," said Anthony. Jennifer added that they were not asking the community for cash but rather for goods and/or their support.
"The Sedgefield community could volunteer to work in the shop and we will give them points instead of cash. They can then trade their points for useful items in the store."
According to Jennifer they plan to start a 100-club. Here people can undertake to give a small donation monthly or a commitment for articles.
A lucky draw will be done at the end of every month. Jennifer and her husband aim to help older children (pre-adolescents) with up-cycling.
Here the children will be taught, for instance, to make bricks out of plastic bottles filled with chip packets. "By taking a beer or cooldrink can, cutting it open and then rolling out the centre, roof sheets can be made," explained Jennifer.
In conclusion, she added that this project is most definitely a long-term project. "We want to thank the Knysna Municipality for the container that they have given us to use, the Island Conservancy for the garden around our Smutsville Swop Shop and each and every body who came together and gave us everything we needed."
As soon as the learners of Sedgefield Primary School, Smutsville were dismissed they started queueing at the new swop shop, armed with their loads of recyclable goods.
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