September is Arbour Month. Thus, the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) South Africa chapter, together with Justice and Peace members from St Charles Lwanga, Orange Farm embarked on a greening initiative by planting trees over the first week of September. The trees were planted in an open space, which when neglected, near the parish and which was being used as a dumping site.
The 10 trees, whose botanical name is Rhus Lancea, and the manure, were donated by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
Itumeleng Pooe from the Greenhouse Project, who also works with the Emmarentia Botanical Gardens, is a parishioner at Holy Rosary, Phiri. He gave a brief presentation on plants.
“Like human beings, plants need food, love and care. For them to flourish, they need water, manure, sun and air which help plants grown healthily,” he said.
St Charles Lwanga was chosen because it is situated in the Vaal Deanery which is faced with poor air quality. Secondly, the parish has been leading when it comes to raising the much-needed awareness as far as environmental issues are concerned in the community. These include the CYNESA team from Kenya coming for the launch of CYNESA SA Chapter, said the group’s South African country director, Tebello Rampo.
Each tree was named after one of the group members who will ensure that they are watered and taken care of.
Lerato Mohone
