Local students deserve brighter, greener futures

Johannesburg, 03 November 2021 – South Africa continues to work on creating equal education opportunities through its commitment to its youth. A safe, and sustainable environment can have a significant impact on the schooling career of a learner. While infrastructure, capital and often educational resources are a limiting factor, trying to create positive, uplifting learning environments remains important and often differentiates better equipped schools from rural or less supported schools. Konica Minolta South Africa understands the need for beautiful, green, clean and uplifting schoolyards, and so continues to plant vital shade and fruit producing trees across the country.
 
Stellar students and sustainable solutions 
 
On Wednesday, 3 November 2021, Konica Minolta Office Solutions, a dealer of Konica Minolta South Africa together with greening NPO  Food & Trees for Africa, hosted a tree planting event at Madibatlou Middle School in Olifantsfontein, planting 20 young trees including five fruit and 15 indigenous shade trees. 
 
“Our childhood creates the foundation for greatness for our future selves and a creative and fun childhood in a stable and safe environment helps create a wonderful learning environment. With this tree planting, we’re creating a more colourful, nature-enriched and sustainable environment for our learners to explore and experience many valuable life lessons. All this, while seeing first-hand the benefits of preserving mother-nature,” says Keith Lee, dealer principal of Konica Minolta Office Solutions.
 
The business, which provides multifunctional devices aimed at increasing workplace and school productivity, also takes the initiative a step further, by upskilling educators and students on how to take care of the new trees and ensure their growth.
 
“We’ve seen the direct impact on our learners since limiting contact due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As we integrate practical outdoor activities back into our curriculum, our students will now be able to play, learn and further engage in a world beyond the four walls of a classroom. Through an environmental focus they will better understand the role trees play in our everyday lives,” says Mr Molokomme, principal at Madibatlou Middle School. 
 
Tag your green
With a strong belief in reviving our environment through long-lasting and meaningful efforts, Konica Minolta Office Solutions will distribute a further 1,000 trees across the greater Pretoria area including an additional 33 schools and a community organisation. 
 
To date, the business has planted over 59,300 trees across South Africa which has offset a total of 21,896.31 tCO₂e. With its ongoing efforts towards achieving a greener South Africa, it proves that continued small efforts make the world of difference in benefiting nature.