Stellenbosch University (SU) recently hosted its first week-long programme to celebrate Earth Day.
This is according to Christine Groenewald, the project coordinator of SU’s Earth week programme. The programme, which involved various projects, intended to reduce SU’s carbon footprint, it said in a statement on the SU website. The programme ran from 19 April until 23 April.
“[The purpose of] Earth week is to make people aware of how unhealthy the Earth is,” said John de Wet, environmental sustainability manager at SU. National Earth Day was celebrated globally on 22 April, according to the Earth Day website.
The projects that took place during the week included the opening of two vegetable gardens, webinars on sustainability and tours to the solar panel system on the Neelsie Student Centre’s roof, according to De Wet.
Stellenbosch University’s Earth week programme. INFOGRAPHIC: Keanan Hemmonsbey
“The theme of Earth Day is ‘Restore our Earth’, and planting trees is part of restoring the earth,” said Groenewald. Two trees were planted outside the Old Main Building in Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch, in celebration of this, said De Wet.
Those who attended the tree-planting ceremony had the opportunity to assist with the planting by shovelling sand around the base of the tree, according to De Wet.
“I’m here to show support for Earth Day, and motivate other people to do their little bit on Earth Day,” said Jö Grobler, the social impact house committee member for Aristea private student organisation, who attended the tree-planting event.
Rigardt van Rooyen, house committee member for sustainability of Huis Visser at Stellenbosch University, discusses the importance of Earth week. VIDEO: Keanan Hemmonsbey
“One quote that stuck with me this week was, ‘We’re borrowing the Earth from our children’,” said Grobler.
SU staff and students could participate in the Earth week activities. However, Groenewald said that Covid-19 regulations impacted attendance of the week-long programme.
“[Due to] Covid-19, we had to limit our numbers. We couldn’t have too many events, and events that were too big,” said Groenewald.
John de Wet addresses the crowd at the tree planting ceremony. PHOTO: Keanan Hemmonsbey