Concordia High goes green

KNYSNA NEWS - The rehabilitation of Knysna has become an important aspect of the town’s recovery process after the June fires, and many organisations have taken it upon themselves to boost and promote this process.

On 1 December the Grade 10 science class of Concordia High School was part of one of these rehabilitation missions, facilitated by Nedbank in partnership with local government as well as NGOs, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) and other organisations.

“Our support for the Knysna rehabilitation programme includes important components we believe will benefit the process,” says Nedbank Knysna business manager Kathleen Mells.

Among these components, according to Mells, is the financial support of the government-led Working for Water and Working for Fire programmes aimed at stopping the regrowth and spread of alien invasive tree and plant species; funding of the purchase and delivery of trees for planting at impacted schools and welfare organisations in the region as part of the municipality-driven Green Friday initiative; providing trees to Nedbank branches in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay for free distribution to clients who wish to plant them in their gardens or local community; and supporting the work of the Endangered Wildlife Trust to protect the water quality of the Knysna estuary.

Knysna Nedbank branch manager Glenton Tobias (green shirt, tree in hand) show the Concordia High School Grade 10 science class how to properly prepare a tree before planting. Photos: Stefan Goosen

“The project is an incredible embodiment of Nedbank’s purpose of using financial expertise to do good for individuals, business, communities and society,” says Mells, adding,

“The visit also had an educational and development aspect to it, with the knowledge of how to plant a tree properly and why trees are so important being conveyed to the students.”

On the day, the team from Nedbank and FTFA brought along with them a few trees to be planted on Concordia High’s grounds.

The tree-planting team with Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, staff and learners of Knysna Secondary School. Photo: Supplied

Knysna Nedbank branch manager Glenton Tobias and FTFA "eco-preneur" Tshediso Phahlane showed the learners how to prepare a tree properly before planting, as well as how to economically water it by burying a perforated 2-litre plastic bottle along with it, with the top sticking out in order to fill with water when needed.

The team also visited Knysna Secondary School, and Kwanokuthula and Phakimisani primary schools, both in Plettenberg Bay.