A group of young entrepreneurs from a village in Zululand have just earned themselves a six-figure sponsorship – through innovative thinking and hard work.
Global motor-car manufacturer Daimler-Chrysler has agreed to grant R100 000 towards the work done by the Khula Enviro Group. Comprising six school-leavers with little hope of finding employment, but an interest in the environment, the group approached Wildlands Conservation Trust project manager, Charmaine Veldman, and offered their services voluntarily.
‘We taught them about alien plants and the damage they do to the ecology,’ says Charmaine, ‘and they began removing the aliens and replanting indigenous vegetation.’ The group also began recycling refuse and offered their services as garden landscapers.
‘The most remarkable thing about this group,’ continues Charmaine, ‘is that they are not only doing this to make money. They are really passionate about the environment. Everything they have achieved has been as a result of their own efforts.’
The success of the initial responsible tourism project at Khula Village encouraged Daimler-Chrysler to support the ‘green team. Tina Buys, who heads up the Corporate Social Responsibility department at Daimler-Chrysler South Africa was most impressed. ‘These six youngsters could become poster-children for unemployed youth who want to make money whilst also contributing something to their surroundings,’ she said.
