Salesians Planning and Development Office
Africa Meridionale (AFM), Salesian Planning and Development Office (SPDO) aims at addressing the effect of climate change by creating "Green Centres" and empowerment/strengthening of local communities in Southern Africa for the improvement of environmental and climate protection through implementation of the Eco-Ubuntu project.
The overarching objective of the project is to contribute to the sustainable strengthening of an environmentally friendly life and to the improvement of the well-being of young people and their families in 6 locations has been made: Lesotho( Maputsoe & Maseru), Eswatini (Malkerns, Manzini) and RSA (Johannesburg, Delft, Cape Town).The specific project goal is to aim over 15,000 children, youths and young adults from Salesian schools and their surroundings use their acquired knowledge and skills from the programme and can contribute to improved livelihoods and environmentally sustainable practices in their communities. The scope of the Eco-Ubuntu project is premised on five priority thematic pillars which include Renewable Energy, Waste Management, Hydroponics, Sustainable Cultivation and Water Supply.
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Sub-targets objectives of Eco-Ubuntu project
- 4.860 beneficiaries from 6 sites are equipped with green life skills that enable them to initiate behavioural change towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Institutional networking and relationship building with other stakeholders to promote environmental awareness, green action skills and environmental sustainability at the 6 sites are strengthened.
- An accredited solar technology course is available to 80 youths annually in 2 skills centres (DBEP and MYC) to increase their practical skills for income generating activities.
- The capacities of at least 5,460 beneficiaries from the above 6 sites in sustainable farming practices, hydroponics and waste management are strengthened, enabling them to become active green citizens for their communities.
Eswatini Eco-Ubuntu project
The eSwatini Eco-Ubuntu Project is currently contrived under four environmental sustainable practices which is Boreholes drilling, Sustainable cultivation, solar training and Life skills. The eSwatini Eco-Ubuntu project focuses mainly in seven different locations which are Salesians schools and nearby vicinities. These schools include Bosco Youth Agricultural Centre (BYAC), Salesians High School, St John’s Bosco High School (Malkern’s), St John’s Bosco Primary School (Malkerns), St Anne’s High School, Sigcineni Catholic Primary School and Gebeni Catholic Primary School, and for each location there are series of activities which all precisely define the purpose of the project.
Boreholes drilling
The boreholes drilling system aims to provide clean water under the clean water consumption act of the World Health Organization. The system will also be used to propel and ensue agricultural projects such as drip irrigation and other vital purposes. The boreholes drilling system will cover three locations which is Bosco Youth Agricultural Centre (BYAC), Gebeni Catholic Primary School and St John Bosco Primary School. A complete take of this practice include water drilling, pump testing and pump installation and water storage ,where water tanks will be provided to store water for later use.
Water drilling process:
From L-R: drilling, pump testing and water pumping.
Sustainable cultivation
This practice solemnly aims to improve people’s diet within the seven selected locations. It is also worth noting that before every diet improvement statement is made, a poverty eradicating statement comes first. Meaning it’s of a paramount importance to know that apart from improving diet, this practice also aims to diminish poverty and help boost food security within the kitchens of these respected locations. This will be accomplished through the myriad environmental sustainable activities packaged by the project.
To ensure abundance and success of the project, a number of workshops pertaining the project’s aims, dawns and completions were made. Furthermore, this workshops unpacked all the necessary elements and stakeholder that were needed for the completion and success of the project. The workshops were first conducted in South Africa and were graced by the presence of AFM members associated with the project as expected. With enough knowledge and exuberant the eSwatini delegate (MYC) then took the initiative to host and workshop all partners and stakeholders in adherence to the expectations of the project.
Locations under this practice include: Bosco Youth Agricultural Centre (BYAC), Salesians High School, St John’s Bosco High School, St John’s Bosco Primary, Gebeni Catholic Primary School, St Anne’s High School and Sigcineni Catholic Primary School.
For BYAC, apart from strengthening food diet and serving other environmental objectives the practice also aims to take some of the centre’s produce to Enjabulweni Boys home which is one of MYC homes. Just like all the other locations, its purpose, its drive is to secure food security and proper diet.
Eswatini sustainable cultivation workshop with stakeholders at MYC(Manzini)
South Africa Eco-Ubuntu project workshop(Johannesburg)
Solar Training
Solar energy, radiation from the Sun is capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. The total amount of solar energy incident on Earth is vastly in excess of the world’s current and anticipated energy requirements.
The Eco-Ubuntu project intend to be a good accomplice in propagating this solar energy incident, not only to generate electricity but also to furnish knowledge about solar energy as a true reliable source of energy that can help redeem mutilated planet earth for more generations to come. More importantly, it hopes to equip students and everyone around on how solar energy can serve in warm greenhouses.
The solar training activity covers all angles involved in solar processes from installation to usage. The training is done in two locations Manzini Youth Care (Head office) and Likusasa Skills Centre. The solar training last for 6 months and each intake has a maximum of 18 students. Pre entry requirements for the practice is a certificate in Electrical or at least a wide range of basic knowledge in electrical.
Students in class during a solar orientation
Structures to do solar
Solar training class of 2024 first intake
Life Skills
Live A Legacy!!!
Life skills relates to the capabilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enables individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.
To adhere to the Eco-Ubuntu project objectives especially those associated with life skills, myriad environmental sustainability lessons are taught in all the seven privileged schools. The sole purpose of this lessons is to educate not only the students but also oblivious citizens on how they can protect and strengthens multitude ways on saving the environment from ourselves.
The life skills practice also serve to raise awareness under the meticulous and immaculate slogan “Live a Legacy”. Basically, by living a legacy the practice implores everyone to take good care of the environment and save it for the next generation to come, so play your part. Once the students have been equipped with such knowledge, they will then heave it, and share it with everyone at their households and neighborhoods. By so doing the verse of saving the environment will be briskly and heavily propagated.
Green Life Skills
Green Life Skills can be understood as the knowledge and skills needed to live and work in an environmentally responsible way, and to deal with the impact of climate change.
Why Green Life Skills
Green Life Skills provide important tools that can be used across all the age groups which can lead to an individual leading a fruitful and impactful green life.The consequences of climate change have led to a great and dire need for transformative capacities to build a socially, economically and responsible human society that cares about the environment. This can only happen through a change both on the individual behaviors and structural factors that exacerbate the climate crisis. Green Life Skills is the answer.
1. Fencing
- Orchard
- Drip irrigation
1. Fencing
- Orchard
- Drip irrigation
Eco-Ubuntu project locations and activities
All the selected sites will benefit under the sustainable cultivation practice which includes the growing of vegetables, the use of drip irrigation and planting process.
Bosco Youth Agricultural Centre (BYAC)
1.Water access – drilling, pump testing, pump installation , tanks
2.Orchard
3.Greenhouse
- Irrigation – Water economizing
- Drip irrigation
Salesians
1. Greenhouse
- Composting
- Drip irrigation
St John's High School
1.Sustainable cultivation
- Planting processes
- Drip irrigation
St John's Bosco Primary School
1. Water Access (Water installation) – drilling, pump testing, pump installation, tanks
1. Fencing
- Orchard
- Drip irrigation
St Anne's High School
1.Drip irrigation
2.Cultivation
Sigcineni Catholic Primary School
1.Drip irrigation
2.Improved orchard
Gebeni Catholic Primary School
1. Water Access (Water installation) – drilling, pump testing, pump installation, tanks
Eco-Ubuntu project competitions
The mighty Eco-Ubuntu project will be hosting four different competitions that will involve all the seven selected sites where the schools will be battling it out for the first prize. The competitions include:
- Sports day
- Annual Eco Day
- Garden competition
- Debate day.
It is worth noting that for all these competitions, Eco-Ubuntu will be the main sponsor. The main aim for all these competitions is for the improvement of environmental and climate protection through implementation of the Eco-Ubuntu project.