Sappi Ideas that Matter - Book 7

Africa
Gomolemo
Gomolemo Clean Environment
Gomolemo Clean Environment (GCE) is a nongovernmental
environmental organisation in the North
West of South Africa that works with government
departments and other stakeholders to help people help
the environment, and in so doing, help themselves.
But it was the specific focus on food gardening that
attracted the attention of a group of students at North
West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Elisma
Groenewald (designer, art director and copywriter),
Irmgard Putter (designer, production manager and
copywriter), Corlia Lombard (strategist, designer
and client service executive) and Mike Cruywagen
(illustrator, designer and copywriter) all agreed that
this was something different. With a keen interest in
recycling and the maintenance of a clean environment,
they chose to apply their combined creative muscle
to Gomolemo’s cause.
them to donate either money or equipment. Secondly, the
calendars were distributed door-to-door in the Sarafina
area by members of Gomolemo, in an effort to make
them aware of the critical nature of environmental matters
to everyday life, and the benefits of vegetable gardening.
The response was felt primarily at the workshops held
by volunteers at the Gomolemo Clean Environment for
the people of Ikageng, who turned up in ever-increasing
numbers to find out how to create and maintain their
own vegetable gardens.
The team from North West University see a long
road together with Gomolemo, and have committed
themselves to ensuring the sustainability of the charity
by helping to create jobs for the future.
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The calendar they created had a two-fold focus. Firstly,
it appealed to prominent companies in the North West
region, challenging them to consider their stance
towards a clean and healthy environment and inviting