Golfing great Gary Player, Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and singer Brian McFaddan visited the impoverished Osindisweni community in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, to reward the efforts of community Green-preneurs.
Green-preneurs are community members that are involved in ‘greening’ activities with the Wildlands Conservation Trust, which has networks in more than 35 communities, grows over 600 000 trees and hand-collect over 3 million kilograms of recycled waste annually. The waste and trees are then bartered for bicycles, building materials, food and other livelihood support.
Mr Player raises funds for the Wildlands Conservation Trust through his annual Gary Player Invitational (GPI), presented by Coca-Cola, which takes place at the Zimbali County Club on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November and features a star-studded line-up of major golf champions, businessmen and celebrities including Dalglish and McFaddan.
The Osindisweni visit was an opportunity for Mr Player to witness the impact of the Wildlands Green-preneur model. After visiting a local homestead he handed over Coca-Cola bicycles to three top Green-preneurs in the Osindisweni community – Joyce Dlamini, Bongiwe Ntseona and Zandile Zincume. Bongiwe Ntseona is what Wildlands would call a “Super Grower,” having bartered over 3500 trees with Wildlands for a total of 35 bicycles, which she and her children use for transport and sell for income.
“It is a privilege to visit these remarkable ladies at their homes to see what they have done. They barter the trees they grow and the waste they collect for bicycles and other livelihood items. Having a bicycle means their kids can ride to school and can focus their energy on education instead of on the two hour walk to school. They are incredible people who are making a real effort to make things better in our country,” Mr Player said, before grabbing a bicycle and joining Ntseona on a speedy ride over the rough terrain.
The GPI is South Africa’s premier charity sporting event and forms part of an international GPI series, which has raised over R400 million for charities across the globe. It is the second consecutive year that The Player Foundation and Coca-Cola South Africa have chosen the Wildlands Conservation Trust as a charity beneficiary.
The R1 million raised by the GPI for the Wildlands Conservation Trust last year was used to purchase 667 Coca-Cola bicycles from Qhubeka, a South African bicycle charity – 120 of these bicycles were presented to exceptional scholars from the Wildlands communities, 185 were bartered for 18 500 indigenous trees and the balance are being bartered for plastic waste, removing over 404 000kgs of waste from these communities.
“As the world’s largest beverage system, and a company that is at once global and local, Coca-Cola has a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the communities we serve. We take this opportunity seriously, and know that our company can only be as healthy as the people and communities we strive to refresh,” said Therese Gearhart, Coca-Cola South Africa Business Unit President.
Dr Andrew Venter, Wildands CEO, said it was an honour to be nominated as one of the official charities for the GPI and the funds donated to Wildlands had transformed the lives of hundreds of poor South Africans, inspiring them to improve their lives, clean and green their communities and become cycling ambassadors.
“This would not have been possible without Coca-Cola and Qhubeka, who are equally determined to support the transformation of South Africa’s communities into sustainable, vibrant and healthy communities,” Venter said.
Funds raised by the GPI, including the black-tie auction on Friday 23 November, will be split between the Wildlands Conservation Trust and Wings and Wishes – a charity started by staff at the Coca-Cola Sabco bottling company in Port Elizabeth to collect air-miles to transport critically ill children to receive super-specialist medical care.
The GPI line-up for 2012 includes 9-time Major winner Gary Player, former Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, also a Major winner, as well as Champions Tour Major winner Roger Chapman. Celebrities include McFaddan, Dalglish and fellow football legend Sir Ian Wright, as well as Bold and the Beautiful star Jack Wagner and red-headed beauty Angie Everhart who starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action-comedy Last Action Hero.
The tournament is open to the public on Saturday November 24 and Sunday November 25. Tickets are R75 a day and available from Computicket. Entry for children under 18, accompanied by an adult, is free. The tournament starts at 10am on Saturday and at 9am on Sunday.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)