Having launched the
FURA campaign which seeks to address poverty in areas including Kyasands
Informal settlement, Zandspruit, Diepsloot and other parts of Johannesburg
North, the Green Development Foundation (GDF) is embarking on a mission to
spread the campaign’s charitable objectives.
In addition to the
SMS campaign, this non-profit entity specializing in agriculture and
environmental conservation, travels around the Gauteng province and sells
flowers planted in old shoes - an innovative way to raise funds at the same
time get old shoes into good use.
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Following a few
stops in various areas, this past weekend, the passionate GDF team descended on
two famous venues in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
On 7 November, the
team branded the Rivonia Rooftop Market green with their luring branding and
organic products on sale.
The following day (8
November), the GDF stand moved to the Rosebank Mall Sunday Market where they had
their fair share of visits.
GDF CEO and
representative at both markets, Farai Mupingo elaborated on their mission. “The
partnership with the Rivonia Rooftop and Rosebank Mall Sunday markets was to
expand the focus area of the FURA fundraising campaign. Up to now we’ve been
focusing on semi-urban, rural and semi-rural market segments, but as a way to
broaden our reach we decided to visit the heart of the Joburg north which is a
powerful economic market to push our campaign even further,” he explained.
GDF’s Chief
Operations Officer, Talifhani Tshitwamulomoni, shed light on their offering on
the two-day exhibitions. “Our exhibition entailed selling shoes which we’ve
planted flowers in which forms part of our fundraiser. Also, most importantly
we were there to encourage people to make use of the SMS line and have an
understanding of what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
Speaking of the
significance of using the shoes as pot plants, Mupingo said: “The significance
of the shoes derives from the English term ‘walk the talk’, but our version is
‘walk the hope’ as GDF is not an entity that goes out there to make promises
and say things to make the people feel good, but an organization that walks the
talk and put its money where its mouth is”.
Each shoe plant is
R50 with a beautifully fitted plant in it.
Tshitwamulomoni
added that proceeds from the campaign will benefit the needy communities who
will receive a Nutribucket (which is a 25l bucket filled with different
seedlings that the families can plant and later harvest to consume).
The
targeted communities are Clayoven, Msawawa, Kysands, Lion Park, Eskom
(Itsoseng), Plot89, Video, Tshesampama, Diepsloot, Honeydew, Laezonia, Bridge,
Cultera, which all were identified due to their obvious poverty conditions.
To ensure that there
was footfall on their market stands, GDF made use of its mascot, the
charismatic Buti Green who provided entertainment and attraction for the children.
As there are more
markets and events to visit, GDF also has encouraged the donation of old shoes
to be dropped off on 23 Monument Road in Kempton Park.
For more
information:
To participate in
FURA campaign sms FURA to 48991 for only R10 each),
Visit: www.gdfsa.org/ contact: Farai Mupingo on 011 028 7635
Ends…
Note: The launch of
the FURA campaign was made possible in partnership withTELFA Group, Green
Development Foundation and the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre.
SMS line: SMS FURAto
48991, for only R10.
Photo captions: GDF CEO Farai Mupingo, Lungile Shiburi and
Thabelo Makwarela holding shoes donated by rapper Kwesta, now turned into pot
plants.
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