City Parks youths green Joe Slovo Park in Langa
20 June 2016
A group of young people from the City of Cape Town’s Parks Department set out on Wednesday, 15 June 2016 with the goal of planting trees and developing a garden in PW 55 Road in Langa ahead of Youth Day, 16 June 2016. Although Mother Nature decided to rain on their planned greening event, this did not deter the group, who braved the cold and rain.
Community upliftment through conservation
‘I have great admiration for this group of young people who have decided to do something positive for the environment by using their horticultural skills. The fruit of their labour will be of benefit to the community for a number of years to come. I urge them to nurture the garden and trees so that they grow and flourish in the years ahead and to continue greening even more areas in the future,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, Alderman Belinda Walker.
Youth Forum giving a voice to young Parks employees
Young people in the City Parks Department established a Youth Forum about two years ago. Under the chairmanship of Phenyo Pati, the forum has given the 150 young people a voice within the department. They have identified the challenges they face and are in turn being challenged to look at possible solutions.
‘The Youth Forum has provided a platform to discuss issues that are important to younger employees in the department and is helping to ensure that the City Parks Department continues to create an encouraging environment where young people can develop their skills and ideas. I urge the young people to learn from their experienced peers to prepare them to handle the future challenges of the department. This is the only way they can grow and develop and make progress possible in their careers during their time in the City Parks Department,’ added Alderman Walker.
The Youth Forum recruited more members onto the board at their recent annual general meeting, which has helped to strengthen their voice.
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