Enough for all, forever ... Jeunesse Park

One woman... One dream... 4,2 Million trees.. The life of Jeunesse Park in a nutshell ... a lifelong conservationist and environmental activist. She is the founder of Food & Trees for Africa - South Africa's first and only national greening social enterprise.

FTFA promotes, develops and manages greening, climate change issues,  sustainable natural resource management  and food security programmes since 1990. Jeunesse and her team have distributed over 4,2 million trees across South Africa. Another "convenient truth" is that she has helped develop over 2500 natural food gardens for some of the poorest people of SA. 

I left the studio feeling hugely inspired by Jeunesse. On days like this I am  reminded once again that iStart2 is just a little seed that was planted four years ago. Some people pass by, some pee on the ground cover, some close their eyes and look the other way, some pour water, some bring fertilizer, some go out and tell others about the little seed ... People like Jeunesse see the tree.

Our Branding Warrior, Chris Keys, created a cartoon for Jeunesse  Let's all take hands in Arbour Month and plant a tree with Food & Trees for Africa. Our goal is to distribute 135 000 trees together next year. Are you Mime or Meme?

To listen to the remarkable story of Jeunesse Park, just click play:

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Interested to play your part?

We are looking for volunteers to work with and at the iStart2 HUB to assist in the roll-out of the iStart2 initiative - amongst other things:
- Contacting and working with schools/ Mother's Committees to participate in selling "Bags of Hope" for school fundraising projects in 2014.
- Building a database of faith communities in partnership with SAFCEI.
- Training providers in 27 districts of South Africa interested in partnering with iStart2 on training initiatives in New Venture Creation and Environmental Practices. The districts are:

Johannesburg, Soweto, Boksburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, PMB, Port Elizabeth, Van der Bijl Park, Roodepoort, Rustenburg, Tlokwe, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Witbank, Polokwane, Kroonstad, George/Oudtshoorn, Richardsbay, East London, Kuruman, Upington, Mafikeng, Worcester and Bethlehem.

Email Pierre du Toit at pierre@iStart2.com if interested.

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey  :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

"God is Green" ... Bishop Geoff Davies

Archbishop Tutu calls him the Apostle of the Environment. South Africa's very own "Green" Bishop Geoff Davies is keen to encourage renewable energy and believes we should share the resources of this world. He condemns usury, inequality and fracking and has a firm belief that we are all part of nature and that "we must care for all of life."

Bishop Geoff Davies supports the iStart2 initiative because  we need to touch people through art and use every channel to spread the message. Bishop Davies combines faith and environmental activism in a dynamic package.

The Green Bishop Starts 2

He is the Founder and executive director of the South African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI). A man who has willingly adopted the role of chief challenger and admonisher of those who do not acknowledge the fragility of our planet. He is resolute in his belief that faith communities – be they Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Baha’i or Buddhist – have a major role to play in saving the environment. Bishop Davies received one of the country’s highest environmental honours, the Nick Steele Memorial Award as the SAB Environmentalist of the Year for his work in 2011. 

iStart2 is excited to take hands with faith communities in the roll - out of the iStart2 Challenge. To listen to a podcast of the interview with this remarkable youthful man, just click "play" below.

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Mime or Meme?

Interested to play your part?

We are looking for volunteers to work with and at the iStart2 HUB to assist in the roll-out of the iStart2 initiative - amongst other things:
- Contacting and working with schools/ Mother's Committees to participate in selling "Bags of Hope" for school fundraising projects in 2014.
- Building a database of faith communities in partnership with SAFCEI.
- Training providers in 27 districts of South Africa interested in partnering with iStart2 on training initiatives in New Venture Creation and Environmental Practices. The districts are:

Johannesburg, Soweto, Boksburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, PMB, Port Elizabeth, Van der Bijl Park, Roodepoort, Rustenburg, Tlokwe, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Witbank, Polokwane, Kroonstad, George/Oudtshoorn, Richardsbay, East London, Kuruman, Upington, Mafikeng, Worcester and Bethlehem.

Email Pierre du Toit at pierre@iStart2.com if interested.

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey  :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

Don't cry for me Azania ... Ngila Michael Muendane

The life and message of Bra Mike Muendane has so much meaning for us as South Africans as we strive to build a sustainable country. No pretense,  just passion, honesty and enthusiasm that underscores his youthful outlook on life. The only give-away that this man is approaching his seventieth birthday is the wisdom he shares so eloquently by focusing on the future, infusing values and making a huge contribution to the lives of so many people out there.

A man prepared to take hands with fellow South Africans in building and working towards a new vision for South Africa. A man who can help us discover our purpose by destroying the failures and mistakes of the past and changing mindsets. A man committed to leaving a world behind where the children of our children will live in a country where the "colour of our skin will be as irrelevant as our noses."

Ngila Michael Muendane is an ex-Robben Island-political prisoner, a published author ( ie. I am an African ), life coach and inspirational speaker. He is the founder and Executive member of SOULTALK, as well as the African Institute for Personal Excellence and Leadership (AIPEL)

Bra Mike studied Economics and Political Science while on Robben Island where he was imprisoned from 1963 to 1970, as a political prisoner. He left the country and returned to South Africa after liberation and served as a member of Parliament from 1997 till 2000.

A huge honour to have had you on the iStart2 Show, Bra Mike. To listen to a podcast of the discussion, just click "play"

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Are you Mime or Meme? Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

Feel Good ... Mercedes Mathebula

I am not surprised that Mercedes sings along with Lira:

"I wanna show somebody that I care

Cause feeling good is a choice that we all make"

Mercedes Mathebula, City of Tshwane Sustainability Specialist, and my guest on the iStart2 show this week, exudes positive energy, a passion for sustainability, determination and bubbles with excitement about the plans they have for leading the City of Tshwane into a green economy and delivering on the mission:

"To sustainably enhance the quality of life of all people in Tshwane through a developmental system of local government and by rendering efficient, effective and affordable services".

We chatted to Mercedes, about the newly formed Sustainability Unit at the municipality, the challenges we face in Tshwane with regards to water, waste, energy and health & safety. We touched on plans they have for assisting the vulnerable members of our society and the four phase plan that has now reached the implementation stage where citizens, entrepreneurs and private businesses will be called upon to share ideas for greening the city in future.

An informed citizen is a happy citizen! That's exactly how I feel about knowing that there is a highly competent and passionate team of people driving the sustainability initiatives at the Capital of South Africa. An exciting future awaits the citizens of Tshwane - The African Capital City of Excellence.


To listen to a podcast of the show just click "play":

And the City of Tshwane starts2!

Last Sunday we had the opportunity to experience the magic of song and dance in Mamelodi at the Zindala Zombili Music and Dance Festival. iStart2 was there looking for new talent and building our community network in anticipation of the iStart2 Challenge! If Mamelodi can start, then you can start 2!

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time) 

Mime or Meme? Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...