Asanda's inspiration

'Lil' Shaun Odwa Mshini talks to Asanda "Ceejay" Daraza, a Chintsa local, about life in Chintsa township, her studies in Social Work, what has inspired her to educate herself, and her thoughts on volunteerism.

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Asanda Daraza 

Shaun: Who is Asanda Daraza?

Asanda: I was born in Gauteng in 1992, and when I was three years old I moved back to Eastern Cape.  I am the second born: I have two half siblings, a sister and a brother, and I have an older brother who is a waiter at Prana Lodge.  I did primary school at Chintsa East Public School, and then Byletts for high school.  After Matric I took a ‘gap’ year and I worked with Nokuphumla (Pakamile) at her Preschool.  Then in 2011 I applied for admission to Fort Hare University, East London Campus, and I started in  2012.  Now I’m doing my third year in Social Work!

I’m loving it.  I’ve also started doing my internship.  What inspired me to become a social worker is what I saw in Chintsa: there is a need for social workers.  There are no social workers in Chintsa.  It was also my dream of building my own children’s home, after taking care of many children around the township.  And after the Friends of Chintsa and other individuals started taking care of them, like feeding the children, then I decided that it was time for me to go back to school and study.  That was in 2012.

That’s my life – I grew up here in Chintsa!  I’ve had a great life, many friends.  Even you, Shaun, we used to play together.  We were ninjas and we played at Karate!

Asanda visits Nokuphumla's creche

Shaun: If you had to look ten years back, what changes have happened in your life?

Asanda: Well, I would say back then I didn’t have any white friends!  Then I started meeting a lot of people, like Mr. Brown for example – then things started to change.  I started to learn about different people, because I didn’t know anything.  I was just, like, Ok I only knew my own culture.  I didn’t know anything about other people.  That’s the biggest change for me.  I’ve become a better person because now I know what I want in life.  Back then I didn’t know what I wanted to do because I didn’t know that I wanted to be a social worker.  I was just, like, I don’t know, like the other kids: an actress?  An astronomer?  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. 

Shaun:  What can you say about the interventions in township life, from the local businesses, our organisation Friends of Chintsa, the Chintsa East community, as well as Government: their involvement in Chintsa township and challenges it faces – what can you say about the impact these organisations and businesses have had on the people and life of Chintsa township? 

Asanda:  The organisations are doing a great job.  I remember back in 2002, the township was, something, I don’t know.  The people were doing bad things like stealing, like, from the white people.  And then, like, getting arrested, killing others!  And then after the organisations came in, the Chintsa community tried to help the people in the township, things got better.  People started learning new skills: they were never aware of the skills, the abilities, and the resources they had.  But now they know that, Ok these are the resources that we can use to empower ourselves.  Now they are really empowered, because of the organisations.  That’s what I think.

Shaun:  So how many years do you have left in your studies?

Asanda: I’ll be graduating in 2016.

Shaun:  And then you’ll be looking for a job somewhere?

Asanda:  Yes.  But I’m good at volunteering.  I’m not really looking for a job yet.  I’m not sure I want to get a job right after school, like become a social worker and sit in my office.  I just want to do something.  I just want to volunteer first before earning a salary.  Because I think volunteering is so much better than working for money, because when you work for money, you’re like Ok I’m working for this kind of salary so I’m not going to do a good job for this small salary.  It’s true!  But when you’re passionate about something you can just volunteer.  I’ve volunteered all my life.  I love volunteering.  It’s good.

You know some people have asked me – a lot of things have happened in the township: people drop out of school – so people ask me, “What kept you going?”  Really, I don’t know what kept me going.  Maybe it’s my parents, my dad.  He was not a good parent, but he was always there, trying to make sure I go to school every day.  That was the good thing about him.  And yes, now I’m doing my third year and he is no longer around – he died five months ago.  Which still hurts, but at least he left me with something.  He left me somewhere.  I’ve become a better person, and I’ve learned a lot from him.

Asanda with her uncle

Shaun:  So who supports you with tuition and fees?

Asanda:  No one from my family is helping me.  I applied for a loan.  But someone else who also encouraged me to go to Varsity and apply for the loan is Mrs. Swayi.  She was my Grade One teacher at Chintsa East Public School.  She was the only person who behind me and who was there to support me to apply, to do everything.  When I took my ‘gap’ year she was the only person who was concerned about me not doing anything that year.  She took me to a college in town, but it didn’t work out because it wasn’t a registered college!  She was concerned that I would get a certificate that wouldn’t get me anywhere!  So she decided to let me take a ‘gap’ year and help Phumla at the preschool, and do other things for the community.

Shaun:  Who else has been a good support over the years?

Asanda:  Kate and Nadine they are really there for me.  When I need something I just go to them.  They are the only people who are always there for me.  Also Mr. Brown – he’s also been the guy who has always been there for me.  Then there are also the people I met and the experiences I had working with them: Sharon Edworthy of African Angels School, who I worked with just before African Angels moved to its new premises, and of course Phumla!    Also Janet and Alicia at Unexplored Adventures, where I was a camp instructor. 

That’s my life!

Shaun: So far!

Asanda: Yeah!

Shaun:  The story unfolds….

BIOGAS Garden Transformed!

Story and photos by Odwa Shaun Mtshini


The Biogas garden is suddenly growing in leaps and bounds!  With a recent WESSA injection Chintsa Primary School is now employing some green-fingered ladies to help out at the school gardens and revitalise the Permaculture food gardens drive that was initiated by the Biogas project. WESSA’s role in this new drive, headed by Phikisile Zondani, who has been instrumental in launching the iThuba Nursery & Co-operative, was to first find the right hands to work in the gardens.   

Now that these workers, who we have yet to meet, have settled into a routine the next stage can begin: slowly re-establishing the gardens  to produce some of the produce for the school’s Feeding Scheme – the original intention for starting these gardens - and of course using the gardens to teaching the school children the value of Growing.  Chintsa East Primary School has run the Monday garden club for nearly a year to bring in this green education, and it is usually led by Nokuphumla Pakamile, with the help of the volunteers in the Volunteer Africa 32° South programs run here in Chintsa East.

Phikisile, known affectionately as Bra Phiks by the locals, took us to see the incredible growth of the Biogas gardens this morning and got us up to speed on the progression of the food gardens.  We will keep you updated about the continuation of the gardens and we’ll upload more pictures.

Chintsa Runners' Samuel Luqongo talks to Lil Shaun

Greetings and welcome to another sunny blog post where we talk to Sam Luqongo, our local Chintsa running hero who has just brought back a bronze medal from the gruelling Two Oceans Marathon held annually in Cape Town.  Shaun talked to Sam last week to find out more about the Running Club, better know as the Chintsa Runners - a project started by Steve Avidon through Friends of Chintsa and a initiative that is receiving huge local support.  Below is the interview -

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Odwa Shaun (left) interviews Samuel Luqongo

Odwa Shaun: Sam, tell us about the champ of the Chintsa Running Club, Steven 'Buttercup' Avidon: why did he start the running club, when, and how was it formed?

Sam Luqongo:  Steve 'Buttercup' dreamed of seeing the youth of Chintsa achieving big dreams and staying away from any type of drugs and alcohol.  The running club was formed last year 2013.  I was doing my own running thing, and Steve heard that there is a runner in Chintsa East and his name is Samuel, that’s when he decided to meet with me and came with the idea of starting a running club.  Steve is an intelligent, smart, good listener and a good at communicating with others. He made time in trying to help the children of Chintsa East community to fulfil their dreams.

OS:  How many joined or are part of Chintsa Runners currently?

SL:  There are plus minus 20 members of the Running Club all together but there’s only 10 members who are running competitions at the moment.

OS:  What are their ages, the boys and girls?

SL:  The youngest is 15 years of age and the oldest is 30 years of age.

OS:  Where do you train, what routes does the club run, and what distances do you train?

SL:  They start from the Chintsa East village, running passing Chefane mouth and back to Chintsa East were they started. Its 8 kilometres of run.

OS: What part do you play in the Running Club, Samuel?

SL:  I am in charge of training, and of finding more people who are interested in running.  I am the stand-in mentor role while Steve is away, but Steve co-ordinates with Friends of Chintsa administration for all our organisational needs.

OS:  Tell us about the Nelson Mandela Memorial run in December last year?

SL:  The race started from Tea in the Trees, passed through Buccaneers, over Chintsa East dam, and ended up at the starting point.

OS:  With the funds raised at the Nelson Mandela Memorial run, what has the running club been able to achieve so far this year?

SL:  We have managed to buy T-shirts for the runners and printed them “I run for Chintsa”. We have also been able to pay for the registration fees for several big races, as well as transport to the racing points.  Chintsa Runners also made sure that I, as the main mentor figure, was kitted out with proper running equipment, for e.g. running energy supplements for Samuel, backpack and good quality running shoes - all so that I can perform better, and ultimately enter bigger races and take the name of Chintsa, and Friends of Chintsa, further afield.

Sam poses next to the Big Green E-Machine

OS:  What races have the younger members of Chintsa Runners taken part in this year?

SL:  Tomato Trot, Surfers' Challenge, and The Rhino Run.

OS:  And what support has the Chintsa community shown to the Running Club so far?

SL:  There was great support shown firstly at the Nelson Mandela Memorial Run last year, that we talked about above.  So many people came out for that, and lots of parents allowed their children to join the run too.  They also supported us by having stationed water points along the route, which was great!  We have also had a lot of running gear donations come through Friends of Chintsa for the young runners, such as very new brand name trainers, running vests, water bottles, socks etc.  For this we are very grateful, and we encourage the community to continue to send running gear our way as it is put to good use!  Thank you everyone. 

OS:  What are the aims of the Running Club, and what do the members of the running club want to achieve?

SL:  The idea is to see all of our runners being televised!  Yes, we want to create more awareness around our sport, and try to reach the Iron Man run

OS:  What can you tell us about some of the young runners?

SL:  Yamkela is a good listener and very active.  Sandile is a good runner who likes to challenge himself in a long distance run - he is also on the Unstressed Surf School program.  Sive is a strong young boy and he excels in the 5 kilometres run.  Sisipho is our fast runner, and a good listener.

OS:  Tell us about yourself, Sam - what year where you born and where do you come from?

SL:  I was born in 1983 at Chintsa East, in a family of 6.  I'm the fourth child!

OS:  Where did you attend school?

SL:  I did my lower grades at Chintsa East Primary School, and then I went to Byletts High School.

OS:  Do you have a family of your own?

SL:  I'm not married, but I have a 2 year old son who is going to take a place in the Happy Run Race!

OS:  How did you get into running?

SL:  I like running more than any sport because running keeps me healthy and fit.  I'm also interested in soccer and boxing though.

OS:  What races did you run last year? 

SL:  Surfers' Challenge, Nelson Mandela Memorial Run, Chintsa West to Kei Mouth marathon, Masters marathon, Bonkolo Marathon, Legends marathon, Crawfords Beach Run and Haga Haga Tree Run.

OS:  And this year?

SL:  Tomato Trot, Penny Pinchers race, Masters half marathon, Rhino Run, Jumbo Beach To Beach, and the Two Oceans Marathon.

OS:  Wow!  That's a lot of running!  What are your personal dreams?

SL:  I want to win the Two Oceans Marathon, and to have a chance of running in any of the overseas countries. This year I fulfilled one of my dreams: of getting into and running in the Two Oceans Marathon - this is one of South Africa's greatest races!

OS:  Thank you Sam!

SL:  My pleasure, and thanks to Steve and Ingrid for all their time and energy.  Also thank you to the Chintsa Community for all your good positive assistance and wishes to us!

Chintsa BOXING: Sindile Bokwana's story

With sports activities and clubs on the rise in the Chintsa community we've yet another positive story to tell, this time of Sindile Bokwana who has started a boxing club in the Chintsa township and who mentors a group of about 22 youth in this ancient sport.

Sindile, middle, with a small group of young Chintsa boxers

- Story by Odwa Shaun Mtshini

Born in 1966, Sindile came to Chintsa after dropping out of Nyameko High School in Grade 10: his parents didn’t have enough money for him to continue going to school so he came to Chintsa seeking job opportunities. Seeing that there wasn’t enough money at home for everyone to benefit from, he decided to help the family out. 

At the age of 18 he had his first job and was employed at Chintsa East full time. As time and years went by he saw his friends going to a boxing gym and decided just to check it out.  He would go to the gym whenever he got the chance, and back then he didn’t have to pay entrance fee. Sindile continued to live and work in Chintsa, and then in 1989 he went to Johannesburg and found full time work there.

While he was working in Johannesburg he started training at a nearby boxing gym. Time went by and he began to find exposure in boxing: he got recognised and he started boxing professionally, fighting for Gauteng Province. He would come back home to Chintsa from Johannesburg during December.

One December while he was visiting his family he met someone and started dating. Years went by and he got married and started having a family of his own, so by 2001 he could no longer continue boxing because he had children and a wife and no longer had the time to go to the gym. He decided to give up professional boxing.

But that was only the beginning of the story: he decided to come back to Chintsa and open a boxing club with the help of others. They used the Chintsa East Primary School hall for training, and still train there to this day.

the training room: the hall of Chintsa East Public School

They are faced with some problems like a lack of transport to places were boxing tournaments take place, and also they need, at the very least, a mini boxing ring so they can have a place of their own to train. 

Sindile is currently seeking support for his boxing club - both for transport and for a boxing ring - as his young boxers are not getting the professional training and support they need to work as much as they need to in order to be competitive.  He also seeks support because half of the costs for expenses come from the young boxers he trains, and he puts in the rest from his own pocket.  So far the boxing club has been generously supported by African Heartland Journeys, Buccaneers Backpackers, The Village Bistro and Friends of Chintsa.

He is training about 22 kids between the ages of 13 and 22, but a lot of them do not come regularly. He thinks this is because their parents don’t know much about the boxing club.  He said he’ll be visiting all of his boxers' parents and have a word with them about the Chintsa Boxing Club. 

“We would appreciate all the help that we can get in order for us to keep our gym running, any type of donation towards the gym” he says.  "I would also like to thank Ross Burns for the much needed equipment donation!"  Ross was a volunteer from the UK who took Sindile into town and purchased the much needed equipment.

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Please stay in touch with The Boxing Club and all of Friends of Chintsa's news on Facebook - we are always updating our friends and fans with awe-inspiring stories such as these!  If you wish to provide support in any way please contact us at admin@friendsofchintsa.org

Chintsa East netball court attracts a new wave of sportswomen

For all of you who donated towards our Buy A Metre initiative by ‘buying’ a square metre of the sports field, know that your funds went towards an incredible venture - surfacing our village’s first professional netball court – and in so doing, you have contributed to a new wave in women’s sports in Chintsa. 

An interview with netball coach Noluthando Ngxanga, by Odwa Shaun Mtshini:

Born in 1972 in Chintsa East, Noluthando is from a family of seven.   While she was doing Grade 8 she was a choir member, but also did sports: Javelin throwing, Disc throwing and ...Netball!!!!

She captained for her school netball  team as well as playing for a local team at Phumalani. She passed Grade12 but couldn’t further her studies due to financial problems, and had to stay at home after finishing school. In 1996 she gave birth to a baby boy and named him Luvuyo.

We asked her about how she got back into Netball:

Where have you worked, and where do you work now?

In 2002 I was employed at Crawfords Beach Lodge, and then in 2004-2006 I got a job at Michaela’s restaurant (both in Chintsa East).  In 2007 I was offered a job back Crawfords and I’ve been working there since then.  A few years later and I’m now the supervisor.

When were the Chintsa Netball teams formed, and what made you start these Netball clubs?

I formed the Chintsa Netball Club in 2006 with the idea of getting girls away from drinking alcohol and falling pregnant because of having nothing to do, and from the easy availability of the substance. I am the coach of the team, and I made Nomonde Kantyashe Captain, and Iva the vice Cap.

Where did you practise before the sport field and the Netball court were built?

We used to practise at the place where Ntuthukweni Crèche is now built, but we moved after the sport field was built.

How you feel about the new sport field,  and have you seen any change in the girl’s happiness since the Netball court is built?

Yes we’re so happy to be playing and practising on the netball court!  It has also brought a number of other children to join us.

Tell us about your matches so far: how many at home and how many away?

We had a few home and away matches last year but this year we haven’t had any matches because things have changed, for example a number of the players are at boarding school now.  Others are still practising but they haven’t had any matches yet.

Who did you start the Netball Club with?

I started the Netball Club with Mike Denison who helped us by sponsoring Netball balls and whistles.  I asked for other sponsors but I didn’t get much of a response apart from “I’ll get back to you”.  A sport committee was formed in Chintsa Village, and I became secretary for SANCO (Chintsa Village Council).

What are the ages of the girls who are taking part in the Netball?  

From 13-22 years

When do you ladies practise? 

Monday-Thursday, and we put in extra days if there will be a match!

How many teams do you have?

Currently we have three teams: an A and B team, and the third team is for the youngsters.   Most of the players are at schools which are too far from Chintsa, and they are finding it hard to play. But we have now got some new players who have joined, and they play like professionals!

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Friends of Chintsa attended the Big Chintsa Sports Day in March this year, where the village celebrated the One Year Anniversary of the new sports field and netball court.  There we witnessed first hand the team spirit and professionalism of some of these netball teams, who thrashed the visiting teams to stepped onto their court!

Chintsa East School Drama Club presents: The Gingerbread Girl

What a delightfully dazzling two hours spent at Tea in the Trees yesterday evening, when the Drama Club of Chintsa East Primary School treated us to a highly entertaining show, telling the story of what happened after The Gingerbread Man...

The production poster,
and program (below right)

And what a perfect setting for the play – Tea in the Trees’ Forest Theatre, where a 50-strong crowd  gathered to watch a very local version of the sequel to the epic children’s Fairy Tale, in which the village and surrounding farms of Chintsa have been ravaged by the Gingerbread Man. 

The story unfolds with the Gingerbread Man Creator/village baker coming up with the bright idea of creating a new, benevolent and loving answer to the scourge of the original gingerbread person: a Gingerbread Girl!  There is an amazing moment of genius in this play as the local law enforcement characters, who get wind of this new plot, come in to arrest the baker, and she stands up to them citing her citizen’s rights!  

The play then got a huge round of laughs from the audience as the original Gingerbread Man, played by Grade R teacher Phumla Pakamile – who had stepped into this role only a day before due to stage fright in the original player! – starts to harass and tease the new Gingerbread Girl in an attempt to foil the baker’s plan to rid the village of him, the baker’s bad baking mistake.

The production was presented in true old-fashioned theatre style, with each player individually introducing her/himself, saying what grade they were in and what character they would be playing.  It was all carefully guided by Volunteer Co-ordinater and University of Kent Drama graduate Charlotte Whitehead, who started the Drama Club in an effort to introduce theatre to the school and also to encourage some of the more especially quiet and introverted learners at Chintsa East Primary School, where much of her work takes place (and with whom Friends of Chintsa has a long and colourful partnership), to come out and try a different form of expression.

 For the players who took part in the final production this definitely seemed to have done the trick: to me there was a marked difference in confidence among many of the children I have met and worked with since starting my work with FoC.  They all projected their voices well, speaking clearly and fluently, and recited all their lines without a hitch – Charlotte hardly had to voice prompt from her first row seat at all! 

This is Chintsa East Primary School’s second play, the first being a public performance some years ago of Where The Wild Things Are.  As a transformative program, the Drama Club provides a much needed alternative to the challenging circumstances these little people are growing up in, and speaks directly to their natural ability to pretend and play – perfect!  Every school should have a Drama Club!                              

We would like to congratulate Charlotte and the Drama Club players on a truly outstanding performance.  You all worked very hard on this project, and it showed!  If this spirited group of actors keeps up the current trend, they will become a great set of new leaders to watch out for. 

Imagine what more of this kind of work could do for the youth in our village!

From top: Babalwa Haji, who played the baker's 'Igor', receives her performance certificate
from her director, Charlotte, and then takes a bow.
Bottom: one of the gingerbread men that Charlotte made for each of the players

Interview with Anele Njombolwani, surfer with Friends of Chintsa's Unstressed Surf School

Watch this AWESOME video to learn about The Unstressed Surf School that Anele is taking part in: Unstressed Surf School Chintsa East Wild Coast
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- Story by Shaun Odwa Mtshini

It’s a Monday afternoon, the sun is shining in the sky and the sea breeze is gently blowing: afro soul is playing in the background and we’re interviewing Anele Njombolwani: Unstressed Surfer.

Anele was born in 1997, 11th May in Chintsa East.  He stays here with his family: mother, father, Aunts, grandmother, uncle, sister, brothers and his cousins. He did his lower school Grades at Chintsa East Primary School and he then attended Byletts Secondary Senior High School from 2011, 30 minutes’ drive away from Chintsa. Most of his School and team mates are also attending at the same School.

Anele, left, on way home from school with a friend

In June 2012 he became a member of the Unstressed Surf School. Since his joining he has got to know all the children who were also involved in the Unstressed Surf School and competitions. In June 2013 he missed the Barefoot Surf competition because he was at “the mountain” (emolukweni) – Xhosa male initiation – and after coming ‘down from the mountain’ he then decided to join our local rugby team, The Morning Stars. On the team he plays # 10 fly-half They have been playing home coming and outgoing matches.

Anele, middle, in his early days with the Unstressed Surf School

Things are going pretty well for the team because they have won most of their matches against the opposition and have only lost a few. Some of their matches ended in draws but the team tends to grow stronger with each match they play.

This year Anele is doing Grade 10 at Byletts Combine High School.  We asked him some more in depth questions about his plans for the future:

After you matriculated what do you wish to become? - I haven’t decided yet because there is a lot going on my mind at the moment with a lot of careers to choose from, e.g. I’T programming and Mechanical engineering but I can only decide after taking a gap year.

How did you feel when you went for your first surfing competition? - I was feeling a bit nervous and thinking I won’t do others good but Denver encouraged me telling me I must see to see this as one of the Unstressed Surf School class!

Who is your role model? My role model is Jordy Smith.

If you were to go travelling where would you go? - I wish to go to USA, California, and Australia.

The role played by Mike Denison, community members & others

For how long have you known Mike? - When I started surfing back in 2012 June

How would you describe him? - He’s a nice person who always cheers us up whenever one is feeling a bit down or may be having family problems; he is mostly playing with us when we are at the surf school classes.

What do you think of his involvement in your community? - He plays a very important role in our community by means of jobs and doors were opened in many people, e.g. there was no sport field but then he worked with others towards a change and till this day Nkosinathi is employed at the sports field.

What are your thoughts about Friends of Chintsa and the role that they play in your community?  Friends of Chintsa plays an important role in organising and bringing back the mobile clinic with the help of the community members of course.

When did you find out about Mike and his involvement in your community? I don’t remember but it’s been a while since I knew about him and then I got to know him when I started the Unstressed Surf School.

16-going-on-17 Anele today

The Return of The Big Chintsa Sports Day!

Crowds gather for the 10s football penalty shoot out 

Saturday 1^st March saw the return of The Big Chintsa Sports Day. The community turned out in force with representation from schools, local businesses and many sports clubs. The event included rugby, football, netball and volleyball competitions as well as boxing and cricket exhibition matches. 

Chintsa Cricket team discuss tactics

The main event started at 9:30 with the first game of the day was a cricket match between Chintsa Cricket Club to and an invitational adult opposition. I must say it was pretty amazing watching Awonke, the youngest Cricket Club member playing in his smart cricket whites and even taking a wicket. That means his record still stands of taking a wicket in every match he has played.

The event continued with an adult football match and the mighty Gorillas easily beat African Heartland Journeys to advance to the next round. The DJ and MC played a lively mix of music and the weather was fantastic. Hundreds gathered at the sports field as the day went on.

Chintsa Boxing Club put on a fantastic display

One of the highlights of the day was an exhibition by Chintsa Boxing Club. The coach, Sindile, has obviously worked very hard with these young boys as the skills on display were exceptional.

We would like to thank all those who supported the event by entering teams and sponsoring the equipment and refreshments. It was a true success and a fantastic way to celebrate the 1^st anniversary of the Chintsa Sports Area. We hope all those involved with the Sports Area, including our international sponsors are pleased to see how much of a centre piece for the village the area has become.

Here are the trophy winners:

SCHOOLS:

 10s football                         Bulugha Farm School

 17s football                         Young Stars

 Under 10s Netball               Chintsa East Primary

 Under 14s Netball               Chintsa East Primary

 Volleyball                            Chintsa East Primary

ADULTS:

Rugby                                 Aniseed 

Netball                                Tina’s Team

Volleyball                            The Blue Stars

Football                               Real Madrid

If you'd like to get involved with youth sports in Chintsa in anyway then your help and enthusiasm will be much appreciated. Email admin@friendsofchintsa.org for details. 

JOIN US NEXT YEAR FOR MORE BIG CHINTSA SPORTS ACTION! 

by Shaun Odwa Mtshini

Chintsa Greening: our FOOD & TREES FOR AFRICA story

As part of holding a major BMW event in the area in October 2013, BMW Motorrad SA, through Food and Trees for Africa, donated 600 indigenous and fruit trees to Chintsa East Village. Friends of Chintsa staff and champions provided support to the Food and Trees team by liaising with local community and assisting with the coordination of volunteers who were tasked to look after the trees. Where a surplus of trees was found to be left over, Friends of Chintsa, through a local champion, had the remainder of trees planted and maintained around sports facilities and open green spaces. This is the story:

Food and Trees For Africa (F & T) began by giving a brief presentation at Chintsa East Public School, introducing their company and their ‘Trees For Homes’ initiative to attendant villagers, and inviting those interested to come on board their program.  The gist of this BMW Motorrad SA/F & T project was a ‘corporate responsibility’ exercise where BMW, with the aid of media, could be seen to be doing some positive community greening work in exchange for ‘carbon credits’.  This is presumably one of many nationwide projects in the rural and peri-rural areas of South Africa started by BMW (and no doubt many other giant corporations) in a concerted effort to comply with the new Carbon Tax regulations.  F & T were part of the implementing process which included sourcing of trees locally, delivering the rudimentary training program, and carrying out the year-long monitoring system to ensure the trees that BMW donated would be taken care of in their sapling phase.

F & T provided a very brief workshop to instruct volunteers in becoming Community Based Educators (CBEs), who would be paid R2 per person per tree planted initially, and a further R2 per person for each of the trees that survived under their monitoring at each check-in by F & T.  The check-in was to take place after one week, six months, and finally, one year.  The 'Trees for Homes' model stipulates that these trees were to go to individual homes, however this model had to be bent slightly to accommodate the geography of Chintsa East village.  The workshop was designed to instruct CBEs to approach home owners in order to place the trees at individual home gardens, and engage the home owners in the value of and need for ongoing care of the trees.

The facilitators brought posters to illustrate Climate Change and how planting trees will aid communities to ward off the negative impacts of this, and also provide food, shade, and protection, prevent soil erosion, and inspire a mindset change about utilising home garden space to grow other plants and veggies etc.  We split off into groups to do role-playing to help us get our heads around how to approach people door-to-door and get interest.  The facilitators also explained how the CBEs were to engage people in the process of  digging, planting and long term caring for the trees, and handed out contracts to each of the CBEs to sign. 

  

 

Shots taken during the workshop, and some of the colourful posters used during the training session

To distribute the 600 trees F & T had bargained for 25 -30 CBEs to come on board, making that 20 – 24 trees for each person to put into the hands of householders, and check up on regularly.  With their particular approach and the scant amount of research they had conducted on our Village, the reception was not nearly the anticipated volume of community interest F & T was perhaps hoping to stir up.  Only eight people attended the meeting to sign up as CBEs, including Noxy and Nosipho from Thuba Bamboo & Nursery, and they were joined by Phikisile of Thuba, and four members of Friends of Chintsa (FoC) also attended to glean what they could from this greening workshop.  It may have been a small turn-out, but all present had gardening knowledge or were ecologically minded and understood the fundamental value of trees on our planet.  And the Village is certainly big enough to take on 600 trees, and hundreds more!

 

From top left: trees were planted at Chintsa sports field, public spaces e.g. around Emjojweni Community Centre and the playground, and Chintsa East Public School.

Left: some of the local volunteers who lent some muscle to the digging and planting process

Thuba  Bamboo & Nursery served as receiving and distribution point for the trees, and also as storage point for the excess trees which were kept aside here in the event of fatalities, and also to wait for further planting zones to be determined.  A FoC champion oversaw planting of trees around the netball court at the sports field, around the Emjojweni Craft Centre and main Village thoroughfare, at the playground, at Chintsa East Public School, and other public areas.

Here is a breakdown of trees planted so far:

• 30 shade trees planted at the sports field next to the netball court, because of fences protecting young trees from animals (all CBEs and home owners were alerted to the importance of protecting the trees from the marauding feral goats and pigs.  Protection was not provided by F & T, so FoC tried, where possible, to provide fencing, sacks and poles for this purpose)

• About 30 planted in the craft centre/clinic area

• About 50 fruit or shade trees planted in at Chintsa East Public school. Most of these are doing reasonably with about a 5/10% loss

• About 100 planted in the village at homes with mixed results. There has been a big failure rate due to lack of care and the ravages of goats etc.  

  

Right: Chintsa village resident Dora 

in her home garden with 

her fruit tree sapling.  She has 

protected her tree from feral 

animals with barbed wire and poles

•  20 trees planted at African Angels Independent School

• A further number of trees are planned for planting at Bulugha Farm School as a conclusion to FoC's involvement in seeing this huge donation through to fruition!

All of the trees besides those planted between CBEs and private home owners were planted by FoC champions and volunteers (from the Village as well as those in Chintsa on volunteer educational and environmental programs) engaged by these champions.

Left: Friends of Chintsa's Odwa Shaun Mtshini showing growth of one of the trees planted at the sports field

There are a further 170 trees yet to be planted. Our FoC champion has had these sorted into fruit / indigenous and has had them rebagged /watered / and outlined a plan for their planting. The project goes on: may all the little trees survive, grow, and start to thrive, and may we start to see greener village!