JOHANNESBURG – September 2018 – This September, Konica Minolta South Africa (KMSA), a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd, and Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) are celebrating a decade of planting trees together.

The tree planting partnership began in September 2008 when KMSA donated 3,500 trees to FTFA programme, Trees for Homes, in Orange Farm, near Johannesburg. Through the project over 3,000 homes in the area received trees (either fruit or shade trees), and many schools and community centres in the area also received trees.

Boitumelo Jegeh of PLNK Watches, is one of Shoprite’s Hustle Entrepreneurs of the Month for July 2018. Shoprite writes, “There’s a new generation of entrepreneurs emerging from our communities. Boitumelo is one of them, using social media as her greatest sales tool to create the hype and demand for her product, PLNK Watches. She started an e-commerce store that sells designer watches crafted from reclaimed wood. This allows her customers to add their own personal touches, which Boitumelo graciously adds to these unique orders. There’s more to this upcoming entrepreneur than likes, shares and check-outs. She donates a percentage of PLNK Watches’ earnings to Food & Trees for Africa to help make a change in the real world.

In the build up to Spring Day, many community organisations supported by Shoprite will be selling fresh produce at a Checkers / Shoprite store on Saturday, 1st of September 2018. This opportunity will not only enable these organisations to generate extra income, but it is also an opportunity for them to interact with customers and inform them about the good work being done in and around their community through food gardens. Shoprite has been supporting most of these organisations with starting their own food gardens and preparing them to be able to sustain it in the long run. Furthermore, they will be giving away free tin seedlings to the first 50 customers as a token of their appreciation for the support. Don’t miss out on this great initiative!

This Arbor Month is starting with a bang – with the planting of over 6400 trees nationally in 2018. We’re planting trees at homes and schools throughout the country.

Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) will be attending the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) launch of National Arbor Month on the 7th of September 2018 at Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga. Historically Arbor Week, 2018 marks the first year of incorporating the entire month of September into Arbor Month.

This July staff from Konica Minolta South Africa (KMSA), a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd, will visit the Eastern Cape for the third successive year, to celebrate 100 years since Madiba’s birth. This initiative seeks to plant trees in remembrance of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in areas where the great man spent his formative years. A total of 500 trees have been donated to seven identified beneficiaries in Qunu, Mvezo, Fort Hare and Idutywa. Working with local leadership and key stakeholders, beneficiaries have been identified and assessed to receive trees.

The 18^th of July , Mandela Day, saw Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and their partners planting trees across four provinces in South Africa. The highlight of the day was planting trees at Mandela’s place of birth, Mvezo in the Eastern Cape. President Cyril Ramaphosa and previous South African Presidents, together with various dignitaries, planted fever trees outside homestead in which Mandela was born.

On the 14th of June Food & Trees for Africa and Cova Advisory planted trees at Tsosololo Ya Africa Secondary School in Tembisa. The school were happy to receive 40 trees, half fruit and half indigenous shade, to create an orchard at the school as well as shade for learners. School learners enthusiastically ran the tree planting programme and planted trees in honour of National Youth Month and National Environment Month.

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Schools who have been growing and creating their gardens are invited to enter the EduPlant competition. There is R435 000,00 worth of prizes,  esources and funding for the winning schools. 66 provincial finalists will get a chance to compete at the Finals in October!

With ingenuity, dedication and strong partnerships, it is possible to overcome dire circumstances and transform lives – as a group of ordinary people from Alexandra, Gauteng, have proved.

In 2011, Margaret Thaba, Miriam Malunga and Lekau Nkoko were unemployed, like many thousands of women in South Africa. Without an income, they were unable to support their families. Worse still, they were unable to participate fully in their community by contributing to celebrations or commemorations.