Thursday, June 17, 2010

World Day to Combat Desertification

17 June 2010

By 09h00 the residents of Olievenhoutbosch, extension 19 were already waiting for their trees. The programme was supposed to begin at 10h00.

FTFA banners were already displayed, and the hole for the tree demonstration was dug.The Community Based Educators were interacting well with the residents who were shivering in cold. By 10h00, we had a significant number of people almost 400 of them waiting for their trees. 70% of them were women; 25% men and 5% were children.
By this time the trees were not delivered. People were now getting impatient. Solomon Mondlane and Sipho Mathe (FTFA Community Foresters) tried to explain to them why there was a delay in delivery of trees. The nursery had not delivered trees because those which were packed were damaged by the cold. There was no way we could contact the truck driver because his mobile was off; and it was difficult even for their office to contact him. We had no way to know their whereabout.

Sipho and Solomon came to a conclusion that they run the programme without trees on sight; and what would remain would be a “tree demonstration” part. 500 trees were to be distributed to the residents of Olievenhoutbosch.
The programme started as it was drafted in paper; but it was already 10h30. Sipho greeted the residents and apologised for the delay. He promised them their trees even if they were delivered late. He introduced the CBE, Ntombixolo Poni to welcome the people.

She expressed her happiness on the job done by FTFA and Audi and apologised for the delay. “This is the first time to happen. We have been working in this area for the past 4 to 5 months and nothing like this has happened.”

Sipho introduced the speaker, Solomon. He also apologised on behalf of FTFA and promised them that the trees would be delivered anytime from that momement. He talked much about Audi and FTFA partnership. He also told them the background of FTFA and the programmes that falls under FTFA. He xeplained more about the Trees for Homes Programmes.

The next speaker was the CBE, Mr. Gubini. He thanked the residents for coming down to collect the trees. He also emphasized on FTFA as a committed organisation to its work. He did not forget Audi for sponsoring with trees.

Solomon was called to teach the people how they will have to plant the tree on a dug hole. He demonstrated around the hole without a tree and explained how a tree was being planted and looked after.

The residents were grouped in such a way that, it would be easy for the trees to be delivered next to their households.

The residents were dispersed with the promise that they would be called by a loud hailer once the trees were delivered and they would get them by the spot they chose.

The trees arrived at almost 11h30 and people were already gone. A loud hailer was used and people came in numbers to take their trees, not at once though. The trees distribution event took long than what it was expected.

The event went until it was 15h00. All in all was a good experince and how patient one need to be; and be able to come with option 2 if the other part has failed to deliver.

We took time to do evaluation of other areas amd taking pictures of trees. We encouaraged the people to mulch their trees.

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