Richards Bay youngster drives spekboom challenge
The seven-year-old who suffered a brain injury shortly after birth and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), has become an eco warrior and encourages community members to join the movement and plant as many trees as possible
RICHARDS Bay youngster Rhyah Sai Govender, with the help of family and volunteers, is spearheading a spekboom (Portulacaria Afra, also known in English as pork bush) and climate change challenge to do her bit for the environment.
The seven-year-old who suffered a brain injury shortly after birth and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), has become an eco warrior and encourages community members to join the movement and plant as many trees as possible.
Spekboom is a succulent that helps fight air pollution and has the ability of absorbing four to 10 tons of carbon per hectare and turning it into plant tissue which produces oxygen.
By joining the Spekboom Challenge, which is a social media driven initiative, all South Africans are challenged to plant at least 10 spekboom plants each in 2020.
Rhyah, who is well known as ‘The Warrior Princess’ in the community, faces many challenges, including misconceptions about her medical condition.
Using this initiative, she will raise awareness on how citizens can help remove excess carbon from the atmosphere, and by doing so reduce the effects of global warming and climate change by planting more spekboom, at the same time raising awareness about CP.
Her mother, Pam said people with CP are often marginalised and seen as non-contributing members to society.
‘We hope by creating awareness and removing misconceptions about individuals with CP, those diagnosed with the condition will be included in and accepted by society like everyone else.
‘Climate change affects everyone, and you are never too young to make a difference and so we are encouraging pre-schools, day care centres, primary and high schools to join the challenge.’
Trees are available at R10 each and schools involved can buy them for R5.
For more information phone 083 5270104 or email pamelagovender02@gmail.com.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
