Oudtshoorn, 23 April 2021 – The Oudtshoorn Municipality in collaboration with Trapsuutjies as well as the Youth Community Outreach Program are busy with a cleaning and greening campaign that seeks to involves everyone in the Greater Oudtshoorn to make a difference.
#MyTownMyProblem is an initiative which the Oudtshoorn Municipality prides to be part of. It aims to keep the Greater Oudtshoorn clean and greener. A few residents have been gearing themselves up with cleaning and gardening supplies, tackling dirty sites all around the town and ensuring they are kept clean.
#MyTownMyProblem is a new mind shift where residents of the Greater Oudtshoorn chooses a space nearest to them, and beautifies it; whether it is by cleaning or planting a few plants and trees.
The initiative has become popular over social media, thus, increasing the number of participants. The Municipality is now in talks with different schools, asking them to join in on the campaign and created a change. The Municipality acknowledges the participation and involvement of Bergsig and De Rust Primary Schools in the #MyTownMyProblem initiative. They are the first two schools to participate in the cleaning and greening initiative for the year 2021 in the Greater Oudtshoorn. The Greater Oudtshoorn is yet to announce that more schools will be included in terms of cleaning and greening.
The cleaning and greening programme for the schools will include a 20 minute educational and awareness session on importance of the environment and also the impact of illegal dumping, clean-up in and around the school, and greening by planting of spekboom. It should be noted that planting of trees are also being considered in this programme.
Ambrose Carelse, Oudtshoorn Municipality’s environmental health and heritage officer said, “we would like to see more community members get involved. Upload your cleaning efforts in your area on facebook and let’s start building a culture of MyTownMyProblem”.
Carelse also mentioned that the #My TownMy Problem initiative started roughly two years ago, with the aims to ask community members to help the Municipality in keeping the town clean. Carelse furthermore asked the community of the Greater Oudtshoorn to continue with picking a spot nearest them, cleaning it and keeping an eye on it.
The Municipality would like to give a huge thank you to all the residents, and scholars who have taken the time and participated in the #MyTownMyProblem initiative. It hopes the community and all stakeholders involved will continue with their efforts.