Changing people's perceptions on waste management is the mandate of 16 new waste facilitators presented with their inaugural certificates by the City of Cape Town's WasteWise Community Training Programme.
City of Cape Town’s Jameyah Armien said on behalf of Leander van Oordt, head of Public Awareness and Education for Solid Waste, to the facilitators: “You have been selected to be the face of the WasteWise programme and to showcase the importance of good waste management behaviours to communities, businesses and individuals within your areas. It is an exciting journey as your greatest challenge ahead is changing people’s perceptions on waste management.”
“You will be informing and educating residents about the realities and consequences of poor waste management, looking at practical waste minimization practices within communities, looking at methods to support and integrate efforts to reduce dumping in your areas, encourage communities to take ownership and responsibility through good waste management practices and last but not least, you will be empowering yourself and your communities to ensure a sustainable drive towards waste reduction by developing a lasting waste wise culture.”
Empowering the community
WasteWise is a public educational platform of the City of Cape Town Solid Waste Management Department aimed at raising awareness and encouraging action to minimise waste, end illegal dumping, reduce littering, and increase recycling.
The WasteWise programme’s training was presented by SHARE, a non-governmental organisation, who helps individuals empower their community to maintain a healthy neighbourhood and create Green Zones. According to Lin Helme, director of SHARE, “It is crucially important for members of communities to take ownership of their environment, to understand the consequences of their actions and consider their role as members of the broader Cape Town community."
SHARE has had more than 20 years experience in the adult learning sector, primarily in Adult Basic Education, Non-formal Learning and Community Development.
After the presentation of certificates, the facilitators surprised the organisers and audience with their own WasteWise performance. They broke out in dance, kitted out in refuse bags, overalls and brooms and sang to the tune of zap it in the Zibi bin songs.
“By training and integrating facilitators of the WasteWise programme to empower their own communities, we are applying the fundamental principle of encouraging communities in partnership with schools and business in the areas to minimise waste and assisting them to take greater responsibility for their environment,” says van Oordt.
The list of facilitators are:
Emily Paulse, Natasha Savage, Nicolene Williams, Dawn Ehrenreich, Avril Dixon, Farieda Cornelius, Charlotte Kuster, Beatrice van Wyk, Suerite Erntzen, Valencia Ngawaiya, Mabel Abrahams, Mareldia Hendricks, Veliswa Mhlauli, Thobeka Notshulwana, Nonqaba Mdange, Fran Fredericks.
Photo:
Mareldia Hendricks of Valhalla Park with her wastewise community facilitators certificate. Along with 15 others, she will be helping to empower fellow community members to deal with waste issues in their area. Handing over the certificate is Jameyah Armien of the City of Cape Town solid waste management’s public awareness, communication and education unit.”
