Recyclables used to build Heideveld preschool
A new preschool will be built in Heideveld using old tyres, plastic bottles and other recyclable materials.
Mainly sponsored by a German company, it was launched on Friday August 9.
Heideveld Community Police Forum chairman Pastor Vernon Visagie said a preschool was much needed in the area.
“We look forward to the amount of leaders that will come from this establishment and hope to raise leaders that will take the fight forward in fighting against crime, everything negative,” he said.
Builder Peter Mcintosh said the school would be built using 3000 tyres. To fill in the gaps, they will use eco bricks - plastic bottles filled with litter. Cement will go over that, and it will then be painted.
The school would be built with labour from the community, and it would be cool in summer and warm in winter, he said.
“We will dig a trench wide enough for the tyres, lay the tyres and fill it with building material and compact it. We will build 14 rows to the top and will use about 6000 eco bricks in a wall. We will also use clay, sand, and straw. When you finish building the wall, it looks like a work of art. Lots of love and attention go into the building.”
James Fernie, the director of Uthando (Love) South Africa, a non-profit organisation, said he hoped the project would show people what could be created from rubbish. Uthando helped to find sponsors for the project.
“This will be a monumental beacon of hope, inspiration, creativity and love,” he said. “It brings together interesting stories about people having gone through so much and achieving so much despite their childhoods. It brings about change at a grassroots level. We are grateful for the investment in this community, city and country.”
Deputy mayor Eddie Andrews said: “This is an important project, which is shifting consciousness of the community. A child learns what they need in foundation phase, which will set them up for the rest of their lives. The community has a responsibility to take care of the building.”
