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 ...

Power of Africa ... Geoff Rothschild

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begun

Beautiful words from a song, Memory, sung by Elaine Paige was one of the songs chosen by Geoff Rothschild to play on our show. (The other was Power of Africa by Yvonne Chaka Chaka)

When I left the studio after the show yesterday, it felt good to know that there are people out there who are giving their all to make South Africa a more sustainable country to live in. Geoff Rothschild is one of those people.

I was taken aback by the humbleness, the business acumen and the "human beingness" of this great man. Someone not scared to share his greatness with the world and the people of our nation. Thank you Geoff! Yesterday is a memory I will treasure and a new day will begun for the children of South Africa ...

Our guest, Geoff Rothschild, Patron of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust, the Head of Government and International Affairs at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and its former chairman, received the Education Africa Allegiance Award at the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Awards in New York City last month. He is also a director at the Nepad Business Foundation and Council member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation.

We chatted to Geoff about the Award, sustainability, King III, the NDP, citizenship and his community work, on the iStart2 Show. We also asked him the BILLION  "Dollar" question: "How does one raise R1 Billion?"

Nelson Mandela made the dreams of millions of people true - You can help by making Mr Mandela's dream of building a children's hospital true by contributing R20 to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust. Just sms gift to 40301. To listen to a podcast of the show 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) 

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 ...

Cry Freedom ... Solly Mapaila

What is the vision of the SACP for a sustainable future South Africa? What is Nelson Mandela's legacy for South Africa? Why should we not monumentalise the National Development Plan? What are the certainties we can look forward to in a very uncertain world? Is the NDP going to bring people in South Africa closer together or is it going to divide us further? How soon is government going to start selling the Vision 2030 to the broader society and move to implementation strategies?

Some of the questions we asked Solly Mapaila, Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party on the iStart2 Show. Solly Mapaila, a former  Umkhonto weSizwe cadre, started working as an election co-ordinator for the SACP in 1998 and went on to become its national organiser. Being a musician and cultural activist in his own right, he supports the idea that the arts can be used to "write a new story" for South Africa.

I left Cosatu House with a feeling of renewed inspiration, hope and a continued strong belief in the future of our country. Again, we "cry freedom" with all South Africans and it is critical that we all reach across those barriers that divide us, take hands and build a South Africa where we eradicate poverty and inequality. Let's start creating jobs, small businesses and co-operatives. Let's give our children a sustainable future with hope and prosperity.

To listen to the show 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)

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 ..

Workingman's Blues ... Piet Croucamp

"Government has to sell and people have to buy into The National Development Plan (NDP)or the Vision 2030 for South Africa,"  is the view of Dr Piet Croucamp from UJ. We chatted to Piet on the iStart2 Show about the quantification of social concepts and the measurability of social cohesion within the framework of the NDP. He also shared his views on the legacy of Nelson Mandela and how we as South Africans could sustain this treasure.

Piet Croucamp teaches at the Department of Politics at the University of Johannesburg. Great energy and inspiring insights from a man who isn't scared to challenge the status quo and conventional wisdom in politics or religion.

After the interview I realized once again that we all need to come to a crucial understanding that we cannot wait for political parties or someone else to "write a new story for the country". Everyone of us has a responsibility to start creating those story lines and a future with a "happy ending" for the children of our children. The time to do is now!

 

To listen to the podcast of the show, 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)

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-) Maybe you will be one of the 7 ...