EduPlant awards
The EduPlant competition is left with the very best of schools across South Africa. 70 finalists have worked their way through the competition by growing food gardens, greening, recycling, running outreach projects and generally working towards a healthier and more sustainable future.
The finalists will be gathering in Walkerville, outside Johannesburg, where they will attend three days of workshop, presentations, fun and learning, culminating in the gala awards where the 21 winners are to be announced.
The competition was initiated and co-ordinated by Food & Trees for Africa with the aim of recognising and rewarding schools that promote food security. EduPlant is funded by Absa, Engen and The Woolworths Trust in an effort to address food security in South Africa by teaching educators, learners and communities how to sustainably grow their own food. The funding partners have jointly committed R12 million to the programme over the next three years.
The EduPlant team of permaculture experts visited 200 shortlisted schools during July and August where the schools were given seeds as well as permaculture advice. The EduPlant team then worked through the entries to choose the 70 finalists.
Through the course of the workshop days, the finalists will do presentations in front of a panel of judges who will make the final decision. This year, 21 schools will be awarded in the emerging, intermediate, mentoring, advanced and provincial categories of the competition.
This year, the competition received a record number of over 580 entries from schools across the country compared to 350 entries in 2009. Earlier this year 72 educator workshops were attended by 8 000 educators from across the country, significantly more than any other year!
The benefits of participating in the annual EduPlant competition are extensive for schools. Schools become hubs of environmental awareness, sustainable learning and nutritional knowledge as well as seed banks for neighbouring schools and communities. Some schools gain income from the cultivation of fruit and vegetables and involve unemployed parents in the gardening and food preparation effort, enabling many schools to improve the nutritional impact of their feeding schemes.
EduPlant Awards Programme:
Judging of the 70 finalist schools will take place from 28th to 30th September, where each school will be given 15 minutes to make their presentation to the judges on how they have implemented the holistic principles of sustainable food gardening.
A series of entertaining and educational workshops will run simultaneously and will provide ideal opportunities to engage with the teachers and learners.
08h30 Drumming - a highly interactive drumming session for everyone to participate in
10h00 Medicinal Plants - How to establish a garden that offers natural healing and improved health
11h30 T Shirt Design - Hosted by Woolworths
13h00 financial literacy, saving and budgeting with ABSA
14h30 Paraffin and Water Safety hosted by Engen
16h00 Permaculture - advanced techniques to help schools strengthen their gardening skills
17h30 Globe
For journalists wishing to attend the workshops and the Gala Awards Dinner on the evening of the 30th September and requiring transport from Johannesburg, please indicate this in your RSVP.
Please contact Cherry Blossom Communication for interviews and additional information.
Kristina Gubic
083 651 7087
Venue: Bosco Youth centre, Walkerville
Cost: Media Invitation
More info: Please contact me for a map