17 year old Mabutho Martin Khoza, a Wildlands’ Green-preneur from Mzimela, was recognised as KZN’s Best Emerging Entrepreneur – Youth in Business, at the 4th Inheritor’s Community Achievement Awards held on the 2nd of August at the uMsunduse City Hall in Pietermaritzburg late last week.
Green-preneurs is a collective term used by Wildlands to describe community members that grow trees and food (tree-preneurs and food-preneurs) and collect waste (waste-preneurs), to then barter what they have grown or collected for food, education, building supplies or bicycles, for example.
The Inheritor’s Community Achievement Awards, popularly known as “INDONDO” Awards is described by Cllr Jabu Ngubo as “the ultimate community legacy recognition awards dedicated to the recognition of organisations, partnerships, networks, groups, agencies, groups and individuals and neighbourhoods that inspire, educate and empower communities”. The Inheritor’s Awards is the only community wide grassroot project which provides recognition to all walks of life, from a car guard to an astronomy professor with a heart for community development.
Khoza was chosen based on his passion for and commitment to the environment, and the sustainable community projects he has developed within his community. “After 4 years of being involved in this project I feel so happy being recognised for my work,” exclaims Khoza. “I would especially like to thank Zakhele Ngcobo as he is the hard working young man from Wildlands that has taken this project to such a high level, and because of him we have seen a change in our community and we realise how important the environment is. My school are also happy and I hope to show other children like me to appreciate the environment.”
Zakhele Ngcobo, Strategic Manager at Wildlands Conservation Trust was bursting with pride when interviewed about the young Tree-preneur that he has nurtured for more than 4 years, “It makes me happy to see young people like Mabutho getting involved in the Wildlands’ project and being a part of the positive changes in these communities. It warms my heart to see young people learning to look after the environment and helping their communities become environmentally conscious.”
These awards were attended by some other high profile guests and prize winners, including the CEO of Wildlands Dr Andrew Venter, who described the ceremony as “incredible” and CEO of EKZNW (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) and Wildlands trustee, Dr Bandile Mkhize. Dr Mkhize received an award for “Best Public Service Delivery, Community Care, Good Governance & Best Practise”, and has been instrumental in the expansion of the Wildlands Tree-preneur activities throughout KZN.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)