As part of its Arbor Week (1s t to 7t h September) educational drive among primary schools along its routes, Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire, operator of the N1N4 highway, in partnership with The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has donated and planted indigenous trees at four schools in Hammanskraal.
“Planting trees is largely symbolic, but through actions such as these we seek to ignite the interest of companies, schools, parents and scholars to plant trees of their own. Only through awareness can we do something about global warming,” said Operations Manager, Liam Clark.
Since 2013 Bakwena, in partnership with EWT, has supported the implementation and management of the internationally recognised EWT WESSA EcoSchools Programme, initially in five impoverished schools in Hammanskraal, and then an additional five schools were included from 2015. Currently the Bakwena EWT Eco Schools partnership benefits over 7 053 school learners in the Hammanskraal area.
In celebration of Arbor Week, Bakwena and EWT met with four of their Eco Schools in Hammanskraal to educate and encourage learners on the importance of planting and maintaining indigenous trees. The four schools which participated in this initiative were Lefofa Primary, Reneilwe Primary, Selang Primary and St Camillus Primary Schools.
The tree that was planted in each school was the Schotia brachypetala, commonly known as ”Weeping Boer Bean”.
Addressing the school children and staff of the school, Clarke said that Bakwena is committed to promoting a greater sense of environmental awareness through the planting and care of trees. This initiative is in line with Bakwena’s Corporate Social Investment program.For more information on Bakwena’s CSI initiatives, please log onto w ww.bakwena.co.za.