Acornhoek is a rapidly growing rural centre situated in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in Mpumalanga. It lies next to the greater Kruger conservation area and is part of the Kruger2Canyon (K2C) UNESCO Biosphere. The extended Acornhoek community is severely impoverished, characterised by high unemployment, HIV Aids prevalence rates and poor education and health infrastructure.
Nedbank has partnered with Wildlands and Kruger2Canyon to catalyse and support a unique partnership that will enable the transformation of the Acornhoek community into one that is cleaner, greener, and more sustainable, whilst empowering local residents. Several initiatives are being introduced, including the Wildlands Trees for Life, Recycling for Life, Greening your Future and uBuntu Earth programs.
“Working at the point where environmental conservation and human well-being converge, Wildlands’ guiding principle is the belief that healthy, robust and resilient ecosystems underpin human well-being. If this is achieved, it has the potential to provide a sustainable future for all,” says Dr Andrew Venter CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust.
The Partnership is anchored by financial support from Nedbank, ENGEN and the National Department of Environmental Affairs, who collectively contributed over R 6 000 000 to initiate the Project, and a further R 2 000 000 per annum over the next two years. A network of local non-profit organisations has committed their local management resources and networks to lead and enable project implementation, under the guidance and mentorship of Wildlands and Kruger2Canyon. The partner organisations are the Global White Lion Protection Trust, Klaserie Eco-Training, the Timbavati Foundation, Nourish and Hlokomela.
The initial Partnership objectives are:
• The establishment of networks of Tree-preneurs and Waste-preneurs throughout the Acornhoek community, growing trees and collecting recyclable waste to be bartered for livelihood goods.
• The establishment of Tree-preneur and Waste-preneur inspired schools (and school children), enabling them to generate income on a sustainable basis to progressively improve their facilities.
• The expansion of the Eco-schools and Star Lion Eco-cubs Projects across the community.
• The greening of Acornhoek and restoration of the Blyde River area in partnership with the Moletele Community.
The partnership was initiated in September 2014. Since then the partnership has:
• Enabled the creation of 42 full-time jobs, facilitating the establishment of the Tree-preneur and Waste-preneur networks, and greening and restoration activities;
• Activity in 24 Schools, 3 Creches, 1 Old Age Centre and the Hloklomela HIV /AIDS Support Group.
• The recruitment of 423 Tree-preneurs, who have propagated over 60 000 Indigenous Trees and 19 500 Moringa seedlings;
• The establishment of a pilot Waste-preneur based recycling network.
• The recruitment of 10 Eco-Schools and 5 Star Lions Schools.
The seedlings and recycling will be bartered for a range of livelihood support goods including,
product hampers, education support, building materials, bicycles, water tanks, solar equipment and Hippo Water Rollers. The seedlings will be planted out through the Acornhoek greening and Blyde River Restoration activities, and the recycling will be bulked and sold.
“The project has helped the empowerment of participating individuals who were once marginalised from the local economy to become viable small businesses in their own right. Nedbank is proud to be part of this ground-breaking partnership which aligns so closely with our vision of integrated sustainability,” concludes Nina Wellsted, Sustainability Manager at Nedbank.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)