On 11 April 2019, staff volunteers from TTC Africa joined Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) facilitators at two tree planting events for an early celebration of Earth Day. As Earth Day falls on a public holiday this year (Family Day; 22 April 2019), TTC Africa decided to coincide their Earth Day celebrations with their Insight Vacations campaign.
Through One Tree Planted, TTC Africa volunteers donated trees to two schools in two provinces, planting thirty trees at each. Sixteen TTC Africa staff members from the Johannesburg branch joined FTFA in planting thirty fruit trees at Vulamazibuko Combined School in Diepkloof, Gauteng. Simultaneously, the Cape Town staff got stuck in at Protea Primary School in Bonteheuwel, Cape Town, planting fifteen indigenous shade and fifteen fruit trees.
Both schools were immensely grateful for the donations of trees they received and were excited to host the volunteers from TTC Africa. School staff, learners, and TTC Africa volunteers all had fun-filled mornings getting their hands dirty and learning about the climate change mitigation that trees represent. Vulamazibuko Combined School expressed their joy at the prospect of adding an orchard of thirty fruit trees which, along with their established food garden, will go a long way to enhancing the food security and nutrition of the learners. Protea Primary School learners welcomed the TTC Africa volunteers with songs and performances to display their gratitude for the indigenous shade trees which will beautify their school and add a much-needed wind break and the fruit trees which will enhance food security and nutrition.