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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
EDGE of AFRICA Newsletter - August 2010
Recycling Swop shop
In association with the Biomimicry campaign being run by Sue Swain on behalf of Knysna and Eden Distict Municipalities.
One of EDGE of AFRICA’s latest ventures is initiating Knysna’s first ever ‘Recycling Swop Shop’. This exciting project serves two purposes – to clean up Knysna and to provide for the basic needs of local children.
The idea of the Swop Shop is that children collect plastic bottles, tins, and other recyclable materials and bring them to the Swop Shop. The items are then weighed and the children earn a certain amount of ‘EDGE Bucks’ (tokens) depending on how much they bring. These EDGE Bucks can then be exchanged for items in the shop (all of which have been donated). The more valuable items will require more EDGE Bucks, so the children have the option to save up their EDGE Bucks to buy the more expensive treats!
Similar Swop Shops are already running in Hermanus where the concept has proved very successful and we have every confidence that Knysna’s Swop Shop will also be a big success!!
There will also be another element to our Swop Shop whereby children can chose to complete a variety of learning modules, such as literacy, numeracy and conservation. They will then earn EDGE Bucks based on the complexity of the module.
Finally, as a reward for the children who collect the most recyclables monthly, we are looking at conducting outings and excursions into various natural areas along the Garden Route.
Siyafunda Re-build
As part of EDGE of AFRICA’s ‘build our schools’ project, EOA volunteers (and project coordinators!) have been assisting with the re-build of Siyafunda pre-school.
The previous building was in bad shape with leaking ceilings and damp carpeted floors, and was far too small to accommodate the 80 children that attend the school. Now through the Knysna Education Trust Siyafunda has secured the funding needed in order to build a brand new building in its place! The new building will be large enough to incorporate multiple classrooms and will be a safe and pleasant learning environment for children and teachers alike.
Each week the EDGE of AFRICA team has been helping with the build in anyway they can, from picking up litter from the site to building fencing; and everyone’s hard work is paying off, as the building is progressing quickly and is looking fantastic!
We are honored to be involved in this extremely worthwhile project and once the new and improved Siyafunda pre-school is complete we look forward to helping the next school in need!!
SOUNS Literacy Program
EDGE of AFRICA is working in conjuction with the Knysna Education Trust to implement the SOUNS Literacy Program in pre-schools in the Knynsa area.
This program which has already been successful in the U.S.A. involves using non-toxic, shatter proof plastic letters as a learning tool to teach children to sound out letters. Children are known to absorb more information when their senses are involved, and SOUNS provides the opportunity for better articulation and pronunciation of words as the children become aware of all the sounds and letters in words.
This project is already proving to be successful as children are discovering the sounds of letters and are able to write their names and other words using the SOUNS letters.
Currently EDGE of AFRICA is responsible for helping to implement the program at Judah Edu-Centre and so far this is going extremely well.
HAART Vegetable Garden
Recently EDGE of AFRICA volunteers initiated a vegetable garden at the HAART (Highly Active Anti – Retroviral Treatment) Clinic at Knysna Provincial Hospital.
At present the garden is small but it is growing beautifully! It comprises of cabbage , spinach beetroot and spring onions .
The idea for this vegetable garden came from Dr. Laurel Giddy; she would as we would eventually like to see all the grass area surrounding the HARRT Clinic covered in veggies.
The purpose of this garden is that people attending the HAART Clinic will eventually be able to take a selection of veggies home with them as they leave the clinic. All the veggies that will be grown and are currently growing are of high nutritional value.
With any chronic illness and when taking regular medications a good, balanced diet is imperative. We hope that by establishing this vegetable garden we can assist people who may not have the financial means to buy fresh vegetables in having a balanced diet.
The next phase of the garden is going to be a mealie garden (as in Corn on the cob!)
We have had a lot of support from the people of Knysna and we would like to take this opportunity to thank these people. Thank you to Beth Wilkinson from That’s it and also to Margaret and Bronwyn at Hedges Garden Centre.
For more information on volunteering with EDGE of AFRICA, please visit http://www.EDGEofAFRICA.com/
Written by Jo Lancaster
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
EDGE of AFRICA Recycling Swop Shop
Recycling Swop shop
In association with the Biomimicry campaign being run by Sue Swain and with KEDA on behalf of Knysna and
One of EDGE of
The idea of the Swop Shop is that children collect plastic bottles, tins, and other recyclable materials and bring them to the Swop Shop. The items are then weighed and the children earn a certain amount of ‘EDGE Tokens’ depending on how much they bring. These EDGE Tokens can then be exchanged for items in the shop (all of which have been donated). The more valuable items will require more EDGE Tokens, so the children have the option to save up their EDGE Tokens to buy the more expensive treats!
Similar Swop Shops are already running in Hermanus where the concept has proved very successful and we have every confidence that Knysna’s Swop Shop will also be a big success!!
There will also be another element to our Swop Shop whereby children can chose to complete a variety of learning modules, such as literacy, numeracy and conservation. They will then earn EDGE Tokens based on the complexity of the module.
Finally, as a reward for the children who collect the most recyclables monthly, we are looking at conducting outings and excursions into various natural areas along the
If anyone is interested in donating any items for the Swop Shop please contact: dayne@edgeofafrica.com
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