In a bid to raise awareness on the global climate crisis and its impact on food security, while encouraging the youth to get involved in community based food-garden projects, The Greenwood Park CPF will be hosting an environmental workshop at the Firwood Road Library on Wednesday, 14 September from 10am.
Charles Naidoo, chairperson of the CPF Sub Forum-2, said this workshop brings together the CPF, Community Services and the youth to address a global problem on a local level. “One of our objectives in the CPF is to have our youth constructively engaged outside school hours to keep them away from drugs, crime and other negative influences. We see this workshop as a great medium to empower the youth and involve them in civic activism,” said Naidoo.
He said the event is testament to how the community is open to new avenues for youth organisations such as The Green Buddies Environmental Club and individuals like Michelle Beaumont of Teens Under the Hood South Africa, Anil Bharuth of the eThekwini Environmental Health Department along with representatives from DSW and the Parks Department will be in attendance.
Chairperson of Green Buddies Environmental Club, Selena Govender said it is incredible encouraging to witness all the support that the event is garnering. “It is really encouraging for us as young people when the entire community supports our initiatives. It’s great to have so many stakeholders involved as sector specialist and technical facilitators at the workshop. This workshop is our effort at creating sustainable, youth-centred solutions and opportunities at a local, community level,” said Govender.
Youth Desk co-ordinator, Ashlin Ellan, said that the invitation to the Workshop is open to all youth from the area. “We’re also looking to the youth structures from other community and faith-based organisations in our sub-forum to participate in the workshop. One of the aspects of the workshop is to educate youth about job and economic opportunities that community-based food-gardens can create. This can be a powerful tool to assist marginalised youth in our areas and make a long-term, financially sustainable impact and improvement in their lives. We see this workshop as a mechanism that the community can use to encourage our youth to be involved in voluntary community activities. Workshops like these also help develop leadership, organisational and communication skills in the participants,” he said.
For more information or to RSVP contact Ashlin Ellan on 079 025 5291.
