A sea of green exploded on KwaJobe, a rural community in Northern Zululand, this weekend as 250 ‘Tree-preneurs’ enjoyed their second Community Challenge. The tree growers ranging from ages 7 – 18 were able to participate in the Duathlon (a run and cycle) thanks to sponsorship from Bonitas, Sunday Tribune and Powerade, using bikes they ‘purchased’ with their trees.
The 2.5k run and 6km cycle had KwaJobe’s youth running and cycling their hearts out for first prize. The participants are all part of the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Indigenous Trees for Life project which teaches children to grow and care for indigenous trees which they can then trade back for goods such as food, clothes and bicycles.
The challenge began like any other professional sports event, amidst a flutter of banners and cheering spectators. But these children worked a lot harder than most to be able to participate. The Jobe community is home to the first Indigenous Trees for Life project started more than four years ago (there are now 23 projects around KZN and South Africa) and the community have over the last few years grown hundreds of thousands of indigenous trees used for reforestation projects around KwaZulu-Natal.
Those participating in the event all used some of these well-cared-for trees to ‘buy’ themselves a bicycle enabling them to enter the race. 100 trees for a sturdy, ‘tough-terrain’ bike kitted up with a bell, carry rack and helmet. Winner of this year’s event, (in the 14-18 age category) 17-year-old Thabani Mtshali has grown more than 5000 trees since he started the project. “[The project] has helped a lot because we have food at home now and I have learnt to ride a bike”, he said. “It was great to win!”
Thabani received a jacket, soccer ball and blanket for his win. Prizes were awarded for the top three males and females in the two age categories and a few lucky athletes won lucky draw prizes. Every child who participated received medals, t-shirts and food and drinks on the day and will be receiving a copy of the Sunday Tribune bearing their results as a keepsake. The next community challenge will be held in eSikhawini, just outside Richards Bay towards the end of August.
Photo top left: Ready…set…GO! The youngest of the 250 ‘Tree-preneurs’ set off on a 2.5km run and 6km cycle using bikes they paid for with trees. Picture Credit: Wildlands Conservation Trust/Stewart Nolan
Photo 2: The winners!
Picture Credit: Wildlands Conservation Trust/Maryann Shaw
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)