CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SAVING THE PLANET, ONE TREE AT A TIME

Tribute Mboweni is only 23 years old, but she is already making a big difference in her community and at schools. Since completing her studies in Eco-Tourism, Mboweni felt a need to teach people about caring for the environment by planting trees.

"People in my community did not understand what they could do to save and conserve our environment, and not many of them understood what eco-tourism was all about," Mboweni said. She decided that she wanted to change this.

Planting trees

Mboweni, who studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, started her project, called Project 23 - the Green Movement, to teach young school children the importance of environmental conservation. The project teaches children about caring for the environment by planting trees.

With help from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Water Affairs, Project 23 is now registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Making a difference

The project is very successful and is already making a difference in many communities across the country. It encourages schools and families to plant trees and to use eco friendly products that do not harm the earth.

Mboweni entered the project in the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys competition and won.

For her hard work and achievements in her community, Mboweni has been chosen as an Environmental Youth Minister and will represent South Africa at the Environmental Youth Summit in Canada in May.

The summit is an opportunity for many young leaders from different countries, like Mboweni, to meet and talk about environmental issues.

How you can be more environment-friendly:

• plant more trees
• use fabric or paper shopping bags instead of buying plastic ones - plastic harms the environment because it doesn't decompose (break down)
• recycle and re-use paper, glass and plastic
• don't litter; throw your rubbish in bins - littering harms the environment
• save energy and water n don't use harmful detergents for cleaning - use eco-friendly products.

- Samona Murugan