AngloGold Ashanti has been working with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) since 2006 to green disadvantaged areas in the North West to benefit the communities near to their operations. This has resulted in 7 900 planted for residents in Potchefstrooom, Klerksdorp, Jouberton and Alabama through FTFAs Trees for Homes programme.

25 trees were donated by FirstRand Regulatory Risk Management (RRM) employees to The Thabisong Crèche in Alexandra, on Friday 3rd September 2010 in celebration of Arbor Month.  These FirstRand volunteers partnered with social enterprise, Food & Trees for Africa  to spend time with the children educating them about the importance of trees and the part we can all play to ensure we conserve and protect our world.

Stand the chance of winning one of 4 GreenPan Boston 24cm frying pans valued at R369.99, when you purchase a tree for a loved one or for a needy community.

GreenPan, launched with Jenny Morris in South Africa, is not only eco-friendly, but has all the convenience of non-stick with its unique Thermolon™ coating. Traditional non-stick coatings decompose above 260 ºC releasing fumes into your food.
Thermolon coating contains no harmful PTFE, uses no PFOA in the production process and is rated to 450 ºC.

GreenPan in conjunction with Food & Trees for Africa will plant a tree for every pan sold during the month of August, as part of our green awareness campaign! This is our way of bringing consciousness to the global issues facing our planet and making a contribution towards creating a sustainable living environment for all.  

Available at selected Boardmans, Game, Hirsch,Tafelberg and other  leading stores. For more information phone 086 111 5006, e-mail

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.green-pan.com.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation is a small community with big dreams. Led by a King with a strong vision for a sustainable future, Bafokeng means ‘People of the Dew’. The people of Bafokeng are enterprising people using mineral resources to pursue an ambitious developmental agenda. The Bafokeng community numbers roughly 300 000 people who have retained their unique cultural identity and traditional leadership structures. They are led by a hereditary Kgosi (king), currently Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi.Today, several initiatives are underway to bring to life this rich heritage. Not surprisingly, they are closely linked with the development of a new business: tourism, more specifically, the growing business of cultural and heritage tourism.

In 2009, funds were made available by the Hyde Park Shopping Centre for the implementation of a Permaculture food garden project at Rietvallei Secondary School near Kagiso in Gauteng. As this deserving project had made a success of the initial funding, it was presented as a potential project to Pangea to send a group of their volunteers to help to develop the gardens.

The volunteers came from various communities bringing with them their interest, willingness to learn and eager participation as they helped set up the Permaculture food garden for the coming spring season.

The volunteers’ day was a great success. The volunteers gained an opportunity to learn Permaculture aspects, concepts, ethics and principles and we trust this knowledge will be shared with others, benefitting the residents of Rietvallei and neighbouring communities. The learners and educators were motivated and empowered to take charge of greening their school environment.

ConVista Consulting (Pty) Ltd contacted Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), with exciting news in November 2009. ConVista’s German parent company had funds to invest in sustainable projects in  South Africa.  FTFA proposed the Khayelitsha Special School (KSS) at which FTFA had recently planted trees to offset the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative meeting in the Western Cape, which would benefit greatly from a Permaculture food garden.

Dame Helen Suzman, a patron of FTFA since its inception, sadly passed away at the end of 2008. Her generosity to FTFA continued after her passing when she bequethed R 50 000 to FTFA. This amounted to 555 trees, 85 of which were planted in October 2009 in celebration of the International Day of Climate Change Action. The remaining 470 trees were distributed on the 17th and 19th March 2010 respectively to community members of Cosmo City.

This Arbor Month, September 2010, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) celebrated 20 years of greening South Africa with over 3.4 million trees distributed to disadvantaged communities across the country.  Through the simple message of planting and conserving trees to care for the planet and the people and address climate change, the social enterprise has contributed to the growth in green interest from government, companies, schools and communities.

This great green festival annually offsets its carbon emissions with Food & Trees for Africa. From transport initiatives, solar and wind powered electricity, bio-diesel generators and LED lighting to complimentary bio-degradable soaps and shampoos, recycling and tree planting initiatives, Rocking the Daisies explores every avenue to make this the most carbon neutral green event possible. After the event, trees are donated to disadvantaged communities to offset the emissions they cannot cut.

Complete Events, organisers of Rocking the Gardens, in partnership with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA),committed to planting trees as part of the Rocking the Gardens carbon offset. This music festival, with a conscience, was sponsored by Old Mutual South Africa and was held at Emmarentia Botanical Gardens in 2009. Aside from showcasing some of the best bands in South Africa, it  strove to educate and inform the revellers about climate change and the environment.

This Arbor Month, September 2010, Food & Trees for Africa celebrates 20 years of greening South Africa, with over 3.4 million trees distributed to disadvantaged communities across the country.  Through the simple message of planting and conserving trees to care for the planet and the people and address climate change, the social enterprise has contributed to the growth in green interest from government, companies, schools and communities.

Many South Africa businesses are beginning to embrace the benefits of planting and conserving trees, offsetting carbon emissions and greening, whilst simultaneously improving our overall quality of life and ultimately changing our environment.

During Arbor Month 2010 Food & Trees for Africa will be facilitating the distribution and planting of over 10 000 trees through more than 40 awareness and education events at schools, creches, hospitals and communities across South Africa, with a host of funders.

In addition to sinking the carbon dioxide, that is one of the major greenhouse gases, the trees planted contribute to improved water, energy, soil and noise management, food security (fruit and nut trees), enrich lives and cultivate healthier and more sustainable communities.

This Arbor Month why not plant a tree in your garden, in your community or plant a tree for one of the numerous disadvantaged communities that Food & Trees for Africa assists.  Your contribution will assist to restore ecosystems, improve the environment and create a healthier planet now and into the future.

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and see www.trees.co.za for more on FTFA, Arbor Month schedules and trees of the year information at http://bit.ly/dgwByY.

 

 

Citrine Construction and Food & Trees for Africa teamed up again. This time they planted 100 lemon trees in Darling on 29 July 2010 for 100 inhabitants of this settlement.

To be a pioneer in the true sense of the word is to enter unchartered territory, to forge new relationships and to create a new way of doing things. This is exactly what FTFA and Pioneer Foods Limited, one of the leading food and beverage manufacturing companies in South Africa, are doing in Sovenga, Limpopo. Pioneer Foods has taken steps to invest in greening initiatives in disadvantaged communities of South Africa

Shell SA celebrated Mandela Day 2010 by planting trees in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape and Kya Sands in Gauteng.

The Gauteng event was held at a nursery school called Impact Kids. This is situated in a squatter camp, home to an estimated 15 000 people of which 70 % are unemployed. Impact Kids hopes to make a significant difference in this community through the care and development of the children.

Alon Shina of African Designs started an initiative in 2008 to contribute to a tree as a gift for each customer who purchased their beautiful jewellery and has been planting trees through FTFAs Trees for All programme ever since, 260 trees to date. Each customer receives an Alon Shina branded tree certificate to acknowledge their purchase.

In 2008, a partnership between the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) resulted in the distribution and planting of 6 717 trees for the disadvantaged communities of this district, with additional funding support for more trees provided through FTFA from Ellis of Richmond, Backsberg Wine Estate and the Raith Foundation. In addition, last year’s project provided temporary employment opportunities for 179 community members who were taught how to plant and look after trees and how to promote urban greening to their neighbours.

Recognising that environmental responsibility and carbon neutrality are issues of great importance, Hetzner, in partnership with The Loerie Awards, took a step in the direction of improved environmental responsibility. As a sponsor of The Loerie Awards since 2005, Hetzner wanted to take its involvement a step further by reducing the environmental impact of the event. As the official web hosting partner for the event, Hetzner has played an increasingly important role in the success of the Awards as all entries are submitted online via the Loeries website, hosted on Hetzner’s network infrastructure.

In 2008 Harlequin Paint independently and proactively assessed their carbon footprint. Although their emissions were already fairly low they addressed a couple of areas that needed attention and decided to reduce their emissions as much as they could.

In addition, Harlequin Paints decided to plant 196 trees country wide to offset their carbon emissions, and were thus able to brand themselves the first carbon neutral paint company in South Africa. These trees were distributed to Pula Madibogo Primary School in Limpopo, The Graaf Reinet Greening Programme in the Eastern Cape, the De Deur Youth Centre in Gauteng, Welani Primary School in Mpumalanga, Isibanc Primary School in the Eastern Cape and Jongimfundo Primary School in Gauteng.

Since 2009, VH Timbers has been donating money on a monthly basis towards fruit trees for disadvantaged communities through FTFA’`s Trees for All programme, formerly called the National Tree Distribution programme. Over the past year, Xitlhangu School in Matikoxikaya in Limpopo received 47 fruit trees. The school was very excited to receive this gift of life. The trees were requested so the school would have fruit to feed the children and community, as well as to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the school. As these trees grow, they will also provide shade for the learners to sit under.

Murray & Roberts agreed to support the implementation of Permaculture Starter Packs (PSP) Level 1 for eight schools in the Lephalale Area, formally known as Elisrus, in Limpopo Province.

The following schools were blessed with this funding: Shongoane Primary School, Nku Primary School, Tschukudu Primary School and Mosima 2 Primary School, Motlasedi Primary School, Mocheko Primary School, Morukhurukhung Primary School and lastly, Mfake Primary School, all in rural Limpopo.

The projects’ primary intentions were to implement FTFAs Permaculture Starter Packs to motivate and encourage these schools to grow food  for the benefit of the learners and local community members.  In addition a further 42 schools attended the workshops from the area of Lephalale and 205 participants benefitted from the PSP1 workshops.

Cummins Africa Distribution, a new partner of Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), spent an unforgettable Mandela Day planting 100 trees at three children’s homes around Gauteng. This was arranged and facilitated by FTFA through their Trees for All programme. Mr Sipho Mathe, FTFA project officer, had the honour of accompanying the committed Cummins team to Princess Alice Adoption Home, Epworth Children’s Village and Johannesburg Children’s Home. He taught the team and the staff at the homes how to plant trees properly and explained all the great benefits these trees will bring.

The newly established GIBS Permaculture garden is an initiative the business school is understandably proud of. 
Permaculture – derived from an amalgamation of ‘permanent agriculture’ and ‘permanent culture’ – is recognised as a vital sustainable development and food security initiative for a developing nation, and one which is taking root worldwide.

Nashua Mobile  planted over 550 trees in Riverlea, Soweto, near Soccer City, as part of their drive to green and beautify South Africa and also to improve quality of life in communities where it does business. These trees were planted through Food & Trees for Africa’s Trees for Homes programme for 550 residents of this new settlement.

Three giants on the sustainable development front partnered in a greening initiative for Mbekweni township just north of Paarl, the Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT), The Ackerman Family Foundation and the UN award winning social enterprise, Food & Trees For Africa (FTFA).  Resilient indigenous trees have taken root besides the houses which were built during the annual NMTT Building Blitz Week in March of 2009.

Spare change bulking up your purse?

Inspired to contribute to a healthy and sustainable quality of life and combating climate change through greening and environmental awareness, Pick n Pay have launched a new promotion that changes your change into trees. Drop it in any of the new money boxes located at the Pick n Pay tills and help a needy community receive trees or a food garden

The carbon footprint of the 2010 World Cup has been estimated as one of the highest ever for a sporting event. Together we can make a difference through planting trees to combat this impact and contribute to greening South Africa. Funds raised will go to Food & Trees for Africa.

On the 22 June 2010, 30 trees, sponsored by Starpak were planted at Ellords, an old age home taken under the wing of the Red Cross in Germiston. The trees planted were Rhus lancea and Dodenea angustifolia.

On the day of planting, nine members from Starpak arrived and were warmly welcomed by Sister Wendy, Matron of the home.  After introductions were made,Busi Wawa, FTFA Project officer, demonstrated how to plant a tree. The Starpak staff divided themselves into groups to plant the rest of the trees. A reporter from the local Germiston newspaper arrived and interviewed Starpak representatives, Busi and Sister Wendy.

Some of the residents came out to watch the tree planting and they happily interacted with the Starpak team as they watched the indigenous trees replace the exotic species in the garden.
Sister Wendy thanked Starpak for their donation, and the difference it would bring to the home.

PlanetWorks donated 100 trees to beneficiaries in the Western Cape on behalf of one of their clients. The Ark Educare Centre and Crystal Educare Centre both in Khayelitsha received trees from this donation. They both held events where their board was present and came to assist in the planting of the trees. The Educare programme works towards educating and growing the children of today so they feel empowered to lead successful lives.

Glory, one of the directors for both these educare centres said, "The donation has made a significant impact on the children as they feel loved by a stranger. And that in itself is empowering! So thank you PlanetWorks!"

Wired Communications donated 92 trees to four beneficiaries in the Western Cape. African Leadership is an American organisation based in Khayelitshe where leaders in the community are trained up to educate and empower young children as well as themselves.

KWV, one of the leading wine and spirits producers in South Africa, acknowledged their responsibility in responding to the threats of climate change. They completed a baseline study in 2008 to determine KWV’s carbon footprint and immediately thereafter, several carbon reduction strategies were explored.

SRK Consulting contributed 112 Trees for Homes to the community of Esselen Park on 9 June 2010 in association with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA). 

Committed to sustainable development, SRK gives effect to this through the technical services it offers. Parallel initiatives are supported through SRK’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, across several platforms in the science, environmental and engineering fields, especially within disadvantaged communities. 

Audi SA has been offsetting their carbon footprint with the skilled assistance of United Nations award winning social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) since 2009, instigating progress through planting as they promote South Africa’s greening. This environmentally conscious forerunner in the automotive industry has introduced 3,400 trees into barren and dusty communities this year alone, through FTFA.

To align with the focus of 2010’s World Day to Combat Desertification theme - namely soil biodiversity, benefits and preservation – Audi will distribute 440 indigenous and fruit trees in Olievenhoutsbosch, through FTFA’s Trees for Homes programme. Members of the community are being trained and employed to plant the trees properly, to inform their neighbours on greening initiatives, climate change and the care of the environment, as well as to evaluate and report back on progress.

The World Day to Combat Desertification is observed every year on 17 June. This year, the Day's slogan is, "Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere". Extensive soil degradation is halted by the planting of trees, which introduce and promote micro-organisms in the soils, rehabilitating the land to nurture and propagate a greater variety of plants in the future.

“There is a close relationship between livelihood and ecosystem wellbeing, and soils that are rich in biodiversity. Healthy soils produce life, and yet soil health depends a lot on how individuals use their land. What we do to our soils determines the quality and quantity of the food we eat and how our ecosystems serve us. Our increasing ecological interdependence also means enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere,” according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

For more information about the Audi event at Olievenhoutbosch Plot 65, Camp 1 at 10h00 on 17 June, or to attend, please contact Joanne Rolt on 011 656 9802 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The World Day to Combat Desertification has been observed since 1995 to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, and the implementation of the UNCCD. We can celebrate the Day through organizing activities such as seminars, media events and campaigns. Every single activity involving community participation and cooperation is encouraged! The year 2010 is the International Year dedicated to Biodiversity. To this end, UNCCD aims to sensitize the public to the fact that desertification, land degradation and drought dramatically affect the biodiversity resident in the soil. http://unccd.int/publicinfo/june17/2010/menu.php

FTFA continues to receive media attention. This is vital in helping us to spread awareness and information about the environment, climate change, greening, sustainable development and all the good work we do with help from our wonderful supporters. FTFA knows that change begins with one and thanks the media for helping us to reach out towards getting to that critical mass of consciousness that will bring about the change we need for ourselves and the planet. Check out the great recent interview in Business Day Health News from Marika Sboros on FTFA founder Jeunesse Park, the extensive coverage on FTFAs bright young Joanne Lee Rolt, a Mail and Guardian young SA entrepreneur and finalist in the Johnny Walker Strides competition, all the good work Audi SA is doing with FTFA, the Absa, Engen, Woolworths Trust funded EduPlant updates and much more on FTFAs media pages http://bit.ly/9P5bBY

June 08, 2010                                                                                                    Press Release

Lemnis Lighting, through its South African subsidiary Lemnis Lighting Africa, has been selected by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in liaison with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Department of Energy, Department of Tourism, Central Energy Fund, Eskom and the Local Organizing Committee, to be a key contributor in helping to offset the carbon emissions generated as a result of the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

This initiative will form part of the DEA’s national greening program initiative and is linked to DEA programs such as the recently launched “National Greening” brand.

Initiated by the Foundation "Glowball against Global Warming", together with international sustainability entrepreneur Maurits Groen, Lemnis Lighting has commenced  the “LED’s Kick Off” program, a large scale refitting of inefficient lighting with LED lighting in hotels, office buildings, households, on the streets and in rural areas. Part of the carbon credits generated as a result of this mass roll-out of LED lighting will be retired and donated to the DEA to compensate the entire domestic carbon footprint of the World Cup 2010 event (estimated at 900,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent).

The foundation of the program was laid at the Copenhagen climate change summit in December 2009 in discussions between the Ministers of Environment of South Africa and the Netherlands to find ways to address the urgency of tackling climate change. It follows Lemnis Lighting’s successful mass introduction of LED lighting in the Netherlands in cooperation with the Nationale Postcode Loterij (NPL) which was supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The LED’s Kick Off project is the first programmatic CDM programme in the world using LED lighting. Through the generation of carbon credits, Lemnis Lighting is able to offer attractive financial incentives to remove the hurdle for customers and institutions in implementing this groundbreaking technology. The project will also include “Glowball” soccer balls and an education program for up to 300,000 children in South Africa on “how to become a climate hero”, teaching them how to live a sustainable life and save energy and supplying them with Glowballs. The education programme will be implemented by South Africa’s Food & Trees for Africa.  

Sophia Schmidt, founder of this international climate project which recently kicked off in the Netherlands says, "The Glowball is a unique soccer ball. It has a message written across the glow-in-the-dark equator: "Glowball against Global Warming.com". While playing soccer the children also come across this ‘message in a ball´. The balls will be free of charge to children who cannot afford to buy one. For each ball a child in South Africa will  be trained ‘How to become a Climate Hero’. 

"I am extremely proud that we are an official 2010 Green Goal project" says proposal coordinator Camille van Gestel. "Contributing to a better world as the eyes of the world are upon the World Cup in South Africa is a great opportunity for LED lighting technology in general, for the environmental education of many, many children and for the Glowball campaign which was the reason to embark on this journey in the first place."

For more information www.glowballagainstglobalwarming.com or contact: Camille van Gestel -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About Lemnis Lighting

Lemnis Lighting BV is at the forefront of global LED lighting technology. Lemnis has been recognised as a market leader in the field of LED lighting since 2006 after introducing its first Pharox LED light. In addition to its large scale roll-out programme of consumer, street and greenhouse lighting in the Netherlands, Lemnis is also active in the areas of development, production and sales, with offices in the Netherlands, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore and Johannesburg. Lemnis Lighting is a subsidiary of Tendris Holding. Tendris initiates, develops and invests in companies focusing on market-driven, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

For more info regarding this and associated partners refer to : www.lemnislighting.com or contact : Francois van Tonder, +27 (0)82 496 0315,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In 2010 Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) celebrates 20 years of greening South Africa. Over 3.6 million trees have been distributed to communities across the country and thousands of Permaculture food gardens have been created. To celebrate these wonderful achievements FTFA is changing the name of the National Tree Distribution programme to Trees for All. Through Trees for All, community groups, centres, schools, hospices, orphanages, churches and others receive trees from generous and visionary companies and individuals. This results in greener and healthier environments, more environmental and climate change awareness, a greener lower carbon future and much more. We look forward to more Trees for All!  http://www.trees.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=182:tree-distribution&catid=42:tree-distribution&Itemid=92

National social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), a United Nations award winning organisation, hosted several World Environment Day and National Environment Week events with various sponsors.

Thanks to Audi SA , a Permaculture food gardening project at Makgetse High School in Hammanskraal, about 100km north of Gauteng was launched on 28 May 2010.  This formed part of Audi SA’s greening initiative that was started in 2008 and will continue until 2012 in partnership with national greening and food gardening social enterprise, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA).

Commemorated on 5 June since 1972, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. Through WED, a human face is given to environmental issues to enable people to realize, not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development. The call for action asks communities around the world to do something, “plant a tree or better yet organize a collective tree planting effort..”

World Environment Day (WED) is highly celebrated annually all over the world. This year’s theme is Global Day for Positive Environment Action. It is commemorated on 5 June of each year, and has been since 1972.

According to the media report by UN, the World Environmental Day (WED) is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment, and encourages political attention and action.

The EduPlant final event is fast approaching and we once again call for the contribution of useful environmental, health, educational, climate change or other resources (booklets, flyers, posters, leaflets, DVDs etc) for the 220 finalists and the 70 winning schools’ prize packages (290 schools in total). Over the years contributions to much needed school resources have been greatly appreciated, adding value to the prizes and acknowledgement of the schools attending the finals event.

Please feel free to contact Joanne Rolt if you have any queries or would like additional information telephonically at 011 656 9802 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For the second straight year, Impahla Clothing is offsetting its carbon emissions as South Africa’s first ‘carbon neutral garment manufacturer’.  On 26 May 2010 Impahla  partnered with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) to help green the Masiphile Peace Project in Khayelitsha by planting 150 fruit and indigenous trees.

Audi SA and Food & Trees for Africa continued their mission to plant trees in Olievenhoutbosch on the 22nd May 2010 to celebrate the International Day of Biological Diversity. At this event another 500 homeowners received a tree to plant at their homes and learnt more about biodiversity.

Motorsport South Africa (MSA), the controlling body of all forms of motorsport in South Africa, has again embarked on a Greening campaign to plant trees at disadvantaged schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal in celebration of World Environment Day on 5 June 2010.

The Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) and P&A (Parts and Accessories) staff were treated to an unusual month end tea break. Staff members thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of seeing the newly developed Centre, partaking in a tree planting initiative and enjoying a hot cup of tea during the early hours of the cold Autumn morning on the 29th April 2010.

BENEFITS Personalised fax to email number. Full web administration tool that allows for the control of all incoming and outgoing faxes. No maintenance. No hardware or software required. 24 hour support. Faxes are received in your email inbox. Number non geographic, faxes can be received anywhere in the world. Reduce operating cost for line rentals, expensive fax consumables and paper. Faxes are stored for 5 years at no additional cost. ENVIRONMENT Eliminating hazardous fax machine consumables. Reduce the volume of paper used. Reduce your electricity consumption.
	FTFA has partnered with Green Planet who have a climate smart and energy lean FAX TO EMAIL solution. How can you make a difference? All that you need to do is make use of one of FTFA’s 086 FAX TO EMAIL numbers. This is another simple way for a company to go greener by turning to digital technology FAX TO EMAIL. FAX TO EMAIL is one of the most advanced digital faxing solutions available on the market today, designed for corporates, government, SMME’s and private individuals. FTFA, through Green Planet, can now provide you with a premiere desktop fax solution, enabling you to combine the best features of fax technology with the convenience of email into one powerful easy to use tool. Thus you are able to improve communications, control the flow of information into and out of your environment and increase productivity while lowering costs, and your carbon footprint. FTFA would like to be your innovative, proudly South African, green pioneer partner of choice as you go FAX TO EMAIL.	The solution is not an unfamiliar one and the technology is the same you are familiar with. The only difference is that currently the existing provider retains the revenue whereas each time that you receive a fax on one of our FTFA 086 FAX TO EMAIL numbers this revenue will be made available to FTFA, thus helping us to achieve our objectives of a greener, more sustainable and healthier planet and society.

Solomon Mondlane volunteered to work at FTFA and the team soon saw what a remarkable man he is with many talents and great passion, so Solomon is now part of the FTFA team running the volunteer programme and assisting with the trees programmes.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of FTFA’s inaugural competition run on the website and through previous newsletters.

Congratulations to Mr Derek Wong of Global Hair Extensions cc, of Ferndale, who won a Solar Monkey, bought certificates several times over the last three months to give to his clients, with the trees going to communities that apply to FTFA for help.
 
The winner of a Solar Gorilla is Ms Ingrid Koor of Senderwood in Gauteng who purchased trees 15 trees for a disadvantaged community.

Many thanks to Rene Winter of Wintec Solutions for providing these wonderful prizes. For more information on the Solar Monkey, Solar Gorilla and other great eco products, see www.wintecsolutions.co.za.

One of FTFAs recent projects, Mama Hau, has excelled at putting in their new Permaculture garden. Mama Hau is a woman's drop-in centre in a rural area on the Eastern Cape/Lesotho Border, near Matatiele. The project is part of an ongoing sponsorship program with social development NGO - African Solutions to African Problems (ASAP) and is aimed at the upliftment of women in the community.

The Earth Centre at Backsberg Wine Estate in Paarl is up and running with the appointment of Claire Warren as the Manager. This green building is an information hub, workshop, meeting and event venue that hopes to provide a space for sustainable development and climate change action, inspiration, education and solutions. The cob, solar-powered building on Backsberg Estate, 30 km from Cape Town, will also form the base from which FTFA will operate in the Western Cape. Both FTFA and Backsberg have a strong environmental commitment and the Earth Centre is the product of their shared vision for visible change.

Helen Joseph Government Hospital, Auckland Park, took the initiative to develop a Permaculture Food Garden to feed patients and approached FTFA for help. Grant Thornton, inspired by this initiative, came on board, offering support for a Permaculture Starter Pack to be implemented at the Hospital.

“Surely our hospital is the first to offer patients lettuce from the hospital grounds. We are striving for the best to give our patients a balanced diet which will help in their speedy recovery. I am hoping that Helen Joseph can be an example to other hospitals - that they can stop merely complaining about the problems and start finding solutions to resolve them”, said Naumi Sithole, Clinical Executive.

Document Management Provider Promotes Sustainable Development in Local African Community
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – 26 April, 2010 - KnowledgeTree™, an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) provider focusing on affordable document management software, today announced that the company would be donating all trees derived from its  green IT promotion to a South African school, Zerilda Park Primary School, in Cape Town on April 29, 2010.

The KnowledgeTree green IT promotion, which ran from October 2009 to April 2010, stated that a tree would be planted for every new product sale over US $4,500 as well as for every 1000th community product registration. Through Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), a South African social enterprise that addresses climate change action and sustainable development, KnowledgeTree will now be donating all the trees to the disadvantaged school.
 
Zerilda Park Primary School, a school consisting of 1,300 learners (500 of which receive meals through the government Feeding Scheme), is in a culturally diverse, poverty-stricken neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa. A mix of fruit and indigenous trees will provide the local community with produce, greatly enhance the dry, barren grounds, give much needed shade while also beautifying the local neighbourhood.

Social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) supported Earth Day Network in South Africa by their contribution to the slogan, “A Billion Acts of Green™”, for Earth Day on Thursday, 22 April 2010. One of these acts of green took place at Marine Primary School, Ocean View Township, Western Cape, where ABSA supported the planting of a dozen fruit trees on the day itself.

Attending this event were representatives from Absa, FTFA, the provincial Department of Education, educators and learners.

House & Home ran a promotion during Arbor Week (1st – 7th September) last year donating a tree to a disadvantaged suburb or school through Food & Trees for Africa, for every base set sold during this period. With a realisation of the impact our society is having on the environment, House & Home partnered with social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa to address this through their base set promotion. A total of 307 base sets were sold and 247 trees have already been planted in by residents of Cosmo City north of Johannesburg and 30 at Bergville Primary School, Valhalla Park, Cape Town. The remaining 30 trees were planted at Esselen Heights Primary School in Phoenix, Durban on the 23rd April 2010 to coincide with Earth Day.

Global Days of Service from 17 to 25 April 2010 saw millions of people around the globe working to make their communities and the world cleaner and more sustainable. In South Africa, Audi SA and Food & Trees for Africa distributed  1 300 trees to the residents of Olievenhoutbosch, north of Johannesburg during this time period.

40 years ago an American Senator started Earth Day to inspire awareness and appreciation of the Earth and bring environmental issues to the attention of congress and the public. Today observations and celebrations include all social sectors, nationalities and cultural groups around the world and Earth Day is a successful catalyst for ongoing environmental education, action and change. Earth Day activities offer important points of entry to address worldwide environmental concerns as well as the opportunities for individuals and communities to focus on their local environmental problems. Local activities include clean-ups, restoration projects, tree planting initiatives, water harvesting methods, parades, fairs, conferences, and concerts.

On Thursday 18th  March 2010 Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) worked together with eBucks volunteers at Tirisano Mmogo Primary School to implement some elements of water conservation at the school. FTFA educated and helped eBucks put in place a basic Permaculture food garden and supplied food security through their Permaculture Starter Packs which included - delivery of tools, seedlings, compost, mulch, educational materials, an introductory workshop for eBucks and students of the school garden design. An assessment of the Permaculture food garden and a report will follow later.

FTFA has been working in Cosmo City since April 2006. It is wonderful to see how the trees have grown and the visual impact they have on the aesthetics in the area. It is thanks to the following sponsors that FTFA has been able to make such a difference in Cosmo City: The City of Joburg, The British Council, eBucks, Accor, Grant Park, Helen Suzman, House & Home, Mavromac, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Riso Africa, South African Breweries, Studio Bela, Noam Perski and Nashua Mobile, as well as many individual sponsors.

Crabtree & Evelyn has dedicated 2010 to becoming environmentally aware and intend to make this a carbon neutral year. Crabtree & Evelyn has pledged to plant 25 trees per month for the year of 2010 to offset their carbon emissions.

The third year film and television students of the University of Johannesburg, School of Communication, are required to make corporate videos as part of their curriculum.

Our sincere, heartfelt gratitude goes to Lyn Jones from Continental Outdoor, formerly INM Outdoor, for displaying FTFA's  thought provoking billboards which are produced by Pie Street Advertising. For the past three years, this media has attracted much attention to FTFA's work with short punchy captions and beautiful imagery. We are grateful to these sponsors, who feel as passionately about climate change and food security as we do.  When you are next at an airport, look around,a hungry child may be watching you..

In celebration of National Water Week, 15th – 21st March 2010, Food & Trees for Africa, with the aid of various funders distributed a total of 578 trees and much awareness and education around the need to conserve and use our scarce vital water resources wisely.

The late Dame Helen Suzman, who was a patron of FTFA, sadly passed away after a full and meaningful life, at the end of 2008. Her generosity to, and support of FTFA continued after her passing as she bequethed R50 000 to FTFA for 555 trees. 85 of these were planted in celebration of International Day of Climate Change Action in 2009, 92 were planted on the 17th March 2010, and the remaing 378 were planted on 19th March 2010 in continuation of Water Week celebrations.

Dikolobe Primary School in Mankweng, Polokwane, is one of the 20 schools participating in the Royal Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality(LNV) funded Food For Thought Programme. The motto of the LNV is 'Living off the land, caring for nature' a sentiment closely related to FTFA’s objectives of promoting sustainable natural resource management and food security.

The year 2010 is symbolic of many things and it is the International Year of Biodiversity. To commemorate this, Audi of South Africa will plant 6 500 trees at schools and homes in disadvantaged communities across Gauteng and introduce a school food garden at Makgetsi High School through which the importance of biodiversity will also be addressed

Audi of South Africa, continuing a project started in 2008, has embarked on another three year Greening Project with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) that will see the distribution of over 18 000 trees to indigent communities. This year it will promote greening of degraded areas and biodiversity as part of a year long celebration of biological diversity and its value for life on Earth. The Audi of South Africa Greening Project will focus on a variety of environmental issues and FTFA and Audi of South Africa will spread the message of sustainability and harmonious living to all.

Johannesburg (11 March) -The first winners of the inaugural Climate Change Leadership Awards were announced at a function at the Sandton Sun on Thursday, 11 March 2010.

The Climate Change Leadership Awards 2010 recognise, reward and celebrate South African businesses, community-based organisations or individuals who are leaders in climate change issues, and who are taking the lead through positive voluntary action by implementing a range of activities related to combating global warming. These important awards will also do much to promote awareness and action towards a low carbon economy and thus a more sustainable planet.

To make their houses homes, 247 residents of Extension 4 Island in Cosmo City received trees from House & Home to plant at their homes in Cosmo City on the 19th March 2010. House & Home ran an in store promotion during National Back (and Arbor Week, 1st – 7th September), and for every base set sold during this period they agreed to plant one tree. A total of 307 base sets were sold so 247 trees will be planted in Cosmo City, 30 will be planted at Esselyn Heights Primary School in Phoenix, Durban, and the remaining 30 at Bergville Primary School, Valhalla Park, Cape Town.

Well done to Joanne Rolt, FTFAs Trees for Home sna dEduPlant Manager who received a bursary in celebration of this course. The first Global Carbon Exchange(GCX) Certified Carbon Footprint Analyst course, offered by distance learning institution INTEC in partnership with the GCX,  to teach the green audit skills required to comply with mandatory greenhouse gas emission reporting, was officially launched in Cape Town.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM HERE.

Food & Trees for Africa is now one of the beneficiaries receiving funds from the Woolworths My School My Planet cards and urges all friends and supporters of FTFA who shop at Woolworths to apply for a card.

Join the nursery industry at their autumn trade fair on 10 March 2010 and see displays of seeds, seedlings, pots, herbs, water features and much more…Go to http://www.sana.co.za/ for more information

FTFA is excited to announce its first in house competition thanks to Wintech Solutions who brought  us PowerTraveller with some amazing solar products that are “Worldwide Power Solutions for Technology that Travels™”.

Our `Staff Member of the Month` award goes to Joanne Rolt who tirelessly, passionately and enthusiastically manages the EduPlant and Trees for Homes programmes with skill and precision. 

Speaking of the Earth, Earth Hour on the 27th of March is fast approaching, and we encourage all of you to switch off those lights at 20h30 and spend an evening around candles.

 

Well done to all nominated for these prestigious awards

Well, 2010 has gotten underway, and we hope you are all as excited as we are for this new beginning. FTFA moved into new premises in early January and we are settling in nicely. …

World Wetlands Day 2010 focused on wetlands, biodiversity and climate change and the 2010 World Wetlands Day slogan is Caring for wetlands – an answer to climate change. 

Congratulations to the Ilanga Permaculture Project! The project won second place in the 2009 Initiative Africa Awards.

A festival, a party, a life changing, eye opening experience………….from Joanne Lee Rolt

Words cannot portray the enormity of the affect that the past week has had on my life. I will be eternally grateful to Jeunesse Park, Paul Coleman – The Earthwalker, his beautiful wife Konomi Kikuchi, Tentsukuman and to all who made this wonderful experience part of my journey. The people that I have had the honour and privilege to have spent time with this week will be forever in my thoughts and prayers and the memories will live on forever. Their enthusiasm, spirit and openness are qualities sort out by many and I have learnt so much. It is through the energy, liveliness and belief radiated by this incredible group of individuals that I have been able to relook at my life and reevaluate my purpose and my process. They have given me a new perspective and renewed my faith and belief that I too can make a difference. Today I am filled with a new energy, my spirits are revived and I am looking forward to continuing down my path of making a difference. One day at a time, one tree at a time. - I can’t, but we can -

This event took place at the beginning of November and was well attended by many of FTFAs supporters. It was also a function to present FTFA’s annual review, designed by Pie St Advertising with sponsorship from Willard Batteries and Antalis South Africa. Simon Gear was the guest speaker, as always entertaining and presenting a strong environmental and climate change message. Founder Jeunesse Park shared the achievements of the social enterprise.

Pick n Pay, one of the sponsors of Brands & Branding for Good, www. brandsandbrandingconference.co.za, the first local branding conference to explore the relationship between the trend towards sustainability and the brand, has put its money where its mouth is and joined forces with FTFA to reduce the carbon footprint of the conference. Instead of purchasing gifts for the delegate packs, the organisers will purchase as many trees as delegates attending the conference from FTFA. These trees, fruit-bearing varieties, will be planted in Tembisa.

Sowing its seeds, Rocking the Gardens was the first offshoot of Rocking the Daisies and was attended by approximately 5000 people. Hosted at Emmarentia Dam and forming part of the Old Mutual Encounters Series, Rocking the Gardens was co-hosted by Complete Events, and Oppikoppi Productions.

On 20 October 2009, the children of Khayelitsha Special School joined United Nations representatives in a special tree planting event coordinated by FTFA for the United Nations Enviroment Programme Finance Initiative’s (UNEP FI)www.unepfi.org/events/2009/roundtable/greenweek/index.html

For more than 100 years Barloworld has distinguished itself as an organisation that operates ethically and with integrity. Despite repositioning itself numerous times over the last century, it always emerges with the same commitment to the community and environment.

Mama Rosie beamed with pride as the first four fruit trees were planted on the plot of her community project in Khayelitsha on Friday, 16 October.

“We are so excited about the trees,” said Mama Rosie who started the Mama Rosie Community Project in 2005. “We live in a squatter camp and these are the first fruit trees in our community!”

A jungle food forest was established when a barren and unused school ground was turned into a productive and sustainable Permaculture food garden project, thanks to & Beyond Foundation and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA). Mketse Primary School in Justicia, approximately 8km from Kruger National Park, has over 400 learners (many them orphaned and vulnerable children), 14 educators and 6 community members that have all helped with the implementation of the Permaculture gardening project. The learners and the community members involved in the project have also started their own home food gardens, utilising the Permaculture skills and knowledge acquired during the workshops conducted on site by FTFA. 

Africa may be the continent hardest hit by climate change, and the poor will suffer most. In the lead up to the Copenhagen meetings of world leaders to reach agreement on a climate change response, governments, corporations and citizens are paying attention. Eqstra Fleet Management (EFM) is one of these companies that now aims to be the first fleet management company to offset their carbon emissions.

A group of final year MCom (Business Management) students, passionate about the environment, have decided to walk their talk and give back to the community surrounding the University. Realising that they have used a substantial amount of paper during their study years, they have taken steps to address this by planting trees for disadvantaged communities.

Preservation of the environment is a key priority for Daikin, a pre-eminent maker of residential, commercial and industrial Air Conditioning Systems worldwide.  In line with this priority Daikin has pledged its commitment to sinking some of the associated carbon emissions by planting a tree with every Inverter project embarked upon.

The 24th October 2009 saw the unveiling of a new space for environmental change in the Western Cape. The Earth Centre, a collaboration between Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and Backsberg Estate Cellars, opened as an information hub, workshop venue and learning centre. It will provide a space for sustainable development and climate change action, inspiration, education and solutions.

Johannesburg
 
Climate change is now a crucial international issue and warnings about global warming have been extremely clear for a long time.
 
The Climate Change Leadership Awards 2010 will recognise, reward and celebrate South African businesses, community-based organisations or individuals who are taking the lead through positive voluntary action by implementing a range of activities related to combating global warming.
 
“These important awards will also do much to promote awareness and action towards a low carbon economy and thus a more sustainable planet,” said Jeunesse Park, Founder of Food & Trees for Africa.

The four winners of the 2009 NGO Web Awards were announced in Cape Town in October 2009. The three winners in the category best use of social web were Food and Trees for Africa, South African History Online and Media and Training Centre for Health.

Speaking at the event, Jan Moolman, Manager of SANGONeT’s Civil Society Information Programme said: “The quality of the entries we received this year show that many NGOs are beginning to explore the potential uses of social media in the work. The number of organisations with Facebook pages and Twitter feeds has grown significantly since last year.” Moolman also pointed to the increasing trend evident in the over 60 entries using social media to complement their primary web presence. SANGONeT Executive Director, David Barnard handed the certificates over to the winners, all of whom were present at the event to receive their awards. Three of the winners received prizes to the value of R10 000.

FTFA is extremely proud of their site and social media and thanks brilliant webmaster Douw Jordaan of Goodwebmarketing for his tremendous efforts. All who know Douw are impressed with his great skills and talent and www.trees.co.za is attracting over 40 000 unique visitors a month.

The 24th October 2009 saw the unveiling of a new space for environmental change in the Western Cape. The Earth Centre, a collaboration between Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and Backsberg Estate Cellars, opened as an information hub, workshop venue and learning centre. It will provide a space for sustainable development and climate change action, inspiration, education and solutions.

As a friend of Hopenhagen, you know that in order to make the UN Climate Change Conference a success, we’re going to have to draw upon the power of the people. Here are some ways you can help make this happen. Help us lead the leaders by visiting hopenhagen.org today. Sign the Climate Petition. Become a citizen. But most important, use your position in the sustainability movement to get the story of Hopenhagen out there. Tell your friends and family, blog about it, talk about it in interviews and speeches. Use every platform you have to encourage the world to get involved and sign the petition, too. Because the more of us who do, the more our leaders will recognize the world is serious about change. Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen. 

SIGN THE PETITION

Ahead of the United Nations World Food Day (16 October), twenty-one of South Africa’s top food gardening schools have been selected from over 350 national entries as the winners of the 2009 EduPlant competition.

RALEIGH, NC — October 13, 2009 — KnowledgeTree®, an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) provider focusing on affordable document management software that is easily installed and used by business professionals, today announced the launch of a green IT promotion benefiting Food & Trees for Africa to promote environmental sustainability. As part of this initiative, for every new sale over $4,500, KnowledgeTree will plant a tree in Africa on the customer’s behalf.

The 1st of September was ‘Spring Day’ and the start of South Africa’s National Arbor Month. Arbor Month aims to create awareness of the need to plant and maintain indigenous trees. AMERICAN shutters, specialists in the design, manufacture and installation of shutters and blinds, have made an initial investment in 100 trees to be planted within disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.

FTFA is a proud contributor to the United Nations Environment Programme Billion Tree Campaign that has now reached 7 billion trees—one for every person on the planet!!

We are proud to announce that Jeunesse Park, Founder of FTFA, has been invited to join the Global Advisory Board of OgilvyEarth, a network of global Ogilvy companies dedicated to helping global brands become leaders in sustainability. She is currently in New York, meeting the OgilvyEarth Board, comprised of members from around the world, including one of Barak Obama`s Environmental Advisors, Mr Bill Bekker.

Special commendation for innovation -- Energy efficiency and carbon management: Food & Trees for Africa

Climate change is arguably the most important issue of our time and the biggest environmental challenge that we face

Planting an indigenous tree is simple and does not take much time, yet it can have a dramatic effect in reducing the world’s carbon dioxide, a green house gas that contributes to global warming. 
Danone Clover, in partnership with the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) is commemorating Arbor Month by launching a much anticipated ‘go green’ campaign. 

Willard Batteries has partnered with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) over the past few years with the Go Green Go Willard campaign that recycles car batteries. To celebrate Arbor Month this year Willard is donating 785 indigenous trees to underserved communities.
Willard’s trees went to the Valoyi Tribe. Hosi Tinyiko Nwamitwa-Shilubana was recognised as the first woman chief of the Valoyi Xitsonga tribe in June 2008. Hosi Tinyiko Lwandlamuni Nwamitwa-Shilubana is an MP for the Tzaneen district. The Valoyi live in Greater Letaba Municipality in Mopani District which is home to 70 000 people, 11 000 families, 29 schools and three clinics. They applied to FTFA for trees for all homes, schools and clinics which would be a total of around 11 320 trees. This project would thus uplift the quality of life and food security in the instance of fruit trees and act as a carbon sink in the fight against global warming.

Backsberg Estate Cellars, South Africa's first carbon neutral winery, has once again been recognised for its leading role in adapting to cellar and farming practices that are environmentally friendly by winning the 'Mail and Guardian' Greening the Future award in the Agricultural category.
 
These annual awards honour the achievements of companies and organisations throughout South Africa that work to ensure a better environmental future for our children and the planet. In 2008 Backsberg won the Greening the Future award in the category of Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management.