WET-Africa Serving Africa

Serving Africa

• Through the WET platform, Ashoka Fellows in Africa will mobilize the continent to fully participte in the societal transformation on addressing Water, sanitation and environmental issues in a more sustainable way. The socio-economic opportunities this has for the world's citizens and their capacity to improve their livelihoods are boundless.
• We having developed and tested practical answers to addressing our continental challenges are in a unique position to communicate the significance and relevance of this environmental/green transformation so individuals, organizations, governments, and businesses can understand how this transformation is relevant to them and our future; and how they might contribute to it and benefit immensely.

WET-Africa Charter of Hope

WET Africa envisages a platform of dialogue and action, where ALL citizens, participate freely in shaping their future, an opportunity to change Africa’s environmental perspectives

The participating partners, development agencies, corporate, education organisations, civil societies and governments will endorse a charter of goodwill to save our urban rivers, address growing urban waste management, and increasing marginalisation of the poor through poor sanitation provision, child equity through provision of adequate school sanitation and waste water management. We in the PLATFORM undertake to;

• Encourage information sharing and exchange on Water, Sanitation and Environment innovations, technologies and processes that contribute to sustainable environmental management.
• Support and encourage the voices of All to the contribution of sustainable development on a neutral platform of a green culture in Africa including women and children.
• Encourage scientific foundation as a base for planning, decision making and constructive dialogue for sustainable development in Africa.
• Support and encourage private sector and social entrepreneurs to play a pro active role through private-public partnerships in support of sustainable communities in Africa.
• To encourage innovative financing in support of Water, Sanitation and Environmental transformation, investments and monitoring in Africa.
• Support and encourage commitment towards a strategic monitoring of the implementation of MDGs on Water, Sanitation and Environment in Africa.

With capacity, passion and goodwill on the platform, we can make a green difference and transform Africa

WET-Africa Objectives

The objectives of WET-Africa are to create community enterprises that focus on restoring our endangered rivers to health and animating communities and businesses to separate their waste at source for recycling.

The major themes of our work include Poverty Alleviation, Waterway Rehabilitation, Unemployment, Biosphere/ Environment, Health.

Vision Our Vision is to restore the critical/endangered rivers of Africa to health from source to sea. We also see an enabling environment for: Green Proclamation, Policy Development, Enterprise development and the development of the WET Training Institute.

Our Mission is to provide knowledge and skills in waterway and river restoration, waste separation & recycling at source creating sustainable income for communities, the on-going development of the WET-Africa Charter, energising partnerships with stakeholders, Developing capacity and presenting Train-the-Trainer programmes.

Objectives of WET-Africa include

• Create an enabling environment for integrated waste management and river health
• Provide a database of know-how in waterway rehabilitation
• Design custom made equipment for waterway rehabilitation
• Create Community Enterprises for River Restoration and Integrated Waste Management, including separation of waste at source for resale to recyclers.
• Proclaim the waterways as green corridors and develop a WET-Africa Charter.
• Develop long term partnerships / Ratify Charter with relevant stakeholders; eg Relevant government departments, Recyclers, Corporates, Environmental NGO's. Conservancies, Water and waste forums, Institutes of learning, Community-based organisations and service providers; International organisations and institutions.
• (Already partners with: Sappi, Nampak, Consol Glass, Plastics Federation of SA, Collect-a-Can, Accor/coupons, Deneys Reitz Attorneys (legal), National Association of Conservancies SA, Endangered Wildlife Trust, The Batteleurs (aeriel viewing and photography across Africa), Ashoka Global Association of Social Entrepreneurs (collaboration and networking).
• Provide further opportunities for enterprise development through eco-tourism and community recreational facilities.
• Develop an International Training Institute and living model:
• Build an Eco training centre with relevant accommodation for trainees and delegates for international conferences to showcase WET model / Phase 1, and achievements / ongoing programs
• Establish buildings as Eco-buildings utilising innovative Green Design (bringing in local and global partners and experts) including natural building materials, sustainable energy (solar, hydro, biogas from organic waste and wet-waste), re-using all grey water, water catchment tanks, waste management and recycling, own food production - vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, milk, fish, bread and grains.
• Development Centre to be an example of sustainable living practices to be experienced by all trainees and delegates.
• Utilise local labour and local and global expertise and partners.
• Identify leaders to be trained at the centre whilst practical training occurs on existing operating areas of Phase1/ and other programs.

WET-Africa Goals & Actions

WET-Africa Goals

To drive, motivate, support and stimulate Innovative dialogue, awareness and action on water and environment in Africa and the globe.

WET-Africa Objectives

• to develop a dialogue platform for all key actors on innovations on water, sanitation and environment in Africa.
• to strengthen proactive actions through scientific and entrepreneurships processes to addressing the challenges the continent face on water, sanitation and environment.
• to share lessons on viability and income diversification for supporting livelihoods of the poor through appropriate resource utilization and interventions
• to strengthen Ashoka’s work in Africa, through continuous interaction, sharing and capacity development.
• to support achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

WET-Africa Actions

To develop a dialogue platform for all key actors on innovations on water, sanitation and environment in Africa.

• Interactive WET website www.wet-africa.org.
• Production of marketing and communication materials.
• Participation of local , national and international conferences.
• Continued interaction with the UC Berkeley Environmental Leadership alumni 2009 to establish platforms for replication.
• Generate public enthusiasm and participation.
• Academic collaboration to share know-how and innovation news.

To strengthen proactive actions through scientific and entrepreneurships processes to addressing the challenges the continent face on water, sanitation and environment.

• Develop strategic plans to support sustainable actions on water & water ways, solid waste management and community waste water management. WET-Africa is a sustainable integrated model for Water and Environment Transformation, developing waterway conservation corridors creating extensive skills development and sustainable job creation for the local communities taking ownership of the program.
  The program includes:
  Phase 1- river cleaning, integrated waste management, recycling, buy-back centers, composting, sanitation, bank stabilization, de siltation, bio-monitoring and water quality testing, restoring the biodiversity and eco-systems, producing scientific papers on results;
  Phase 2- forestation, eco-food gardens, fruit orchards, green building, farmers market and eco-tourism.
  All programs are based on a basic wage per person contracted and trained and incentive driven bonuses on measurable deliverables in all disciplines and levels. The model creates multiple income streams which generate income to assure sustainability
  Masters and PHD Students opportunity for field study platforms.
• Organise annual exhibitions on Action areas- involvement of children, community, political leaders, and private sector and development partners.
• Support action research on real issues affecting communities in the selected thematic areas and thus consolidate fellows work with scientific works.
• Develop and explore sustainable financing of action areas from development partners, local financing institutions, “green business” responsibility, equity financing

to share lessons on viability and income diversification for supporting livelihoods of the poor through appropriate resource utilization and interventions

• Developing case studies and best practices in the thematic areas, that ensures potential replication at local levels.
• Applying innovative working technologies (technology transfer options) to addressing livelihood challenges of local communities.
• Creating green market for innovative recovery systems and products to ensure viability of community enterprises.

To strengthen Ashoka’s work in Africa, through continuous interaction, sharing and capacity development.

• Strengthen Ashoka fellow collaborations on the thematic areas through continuous engagement.
• Develop a capacity development framework for the fellows working partners especially in Government agencies and private sector.
• Media support and training on sustainable development, innovations and ecotechnology

To support achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation protocol in line with the MDG targets on water, sanitation and environmental sustainability.
• Develop a sustainable African knowledge base on water, sanitation and environment transformation.

On this site you will find resources, knowledge and technique to rehabilitate badly polluted waterways and in doing so, to create sustainable income and employment opportunities to many people.

WET-Africa Waterway Rehabilitation

We cannot allow any polluted water in this country. The simple reason for this is that our waterways are used for washing, cooking, drinking, leisure, irrigation and fishing downstream. Polluted water kills the earth and harms people and animals. But polluted waterways systems can be cleaned and WET has the knowledge and people to transform waterways to their former pristine state.

WET-Africa People

Kim Kieser CEO Founder, SOUL Foundation & WET-Africa Tel: +27 0 (11) 802 0981
Skype: kimkieser Fax: +27 (11) 0865692940 Email: kim.kieser@wet-africa.org Kim is also an Ashoka fellow - see her profile on the Official Ashoka Website

Judith Taylor SOUL LIAISON Tel: 27 (0) 11 802 2685 Cel: +27 (0) 11 802 2685
Judith.taylor@wet-africa.org Skype: nkweleopard

Margie Kolver Director Recycling Tel: +27 11 (0) 83 738 4606 Email: Recycling@wet-africa.org

Greg Steenveld Director Research & Development Tel: +27 11 (0) 72 479 4940 Email: greg.steenveld@wet-africa.org

Marita Oosthuizen SOUL Liaison Cell: +27 (0) 82 378 4903 Email: marita.oosthuizen@wet-africa.org

Irene Huysamen Member Co-coordinator and Green Wall of Africa Tel: +27 11 (0) 453 1334 Email: Irene@wet-africa.org

Brylyne Chitsunge - Director Political Liaison and Africa Expansion brylyne@wet-africa.org

Attachment	Size
Kim Kieser - Biography and Picture (.pdf)	730.61 KB
Cleaning Africa's Waterways from source to sea (.pdf)	80.2 KB
The story of Soul (.pdf)	971.7 KB

Donate to Wet-Africa

We appreciate your offer of assistance, without which we could not do our work.

Kindly e-mail info@wet-africa.org should you require further information to make your contribution

or deposit your contribution directly in our bank account
Reference WET and your name and email address.

The SOUL Foundation (Section 21 not-for-profit)
Bank Name First National Bank
Account Number 622 150 19549
Branch code 260 950 Wierda Valley
Account Type Business Transaction Account
SWIFT CODE: FIRNZAJJ

SOUL Parent Company Case Studies

PILOT RIVER HEALTH

Sept 2000. 1 month
Mandate: To accurately assess the requirements for cleaning river bed, banks and riparian zone.

50 community members from Alexandra were employed in this 1-month pilot project to clean up 2 kms of the Jukskei River, funded by various corporates
(R380 000).

JUKSKEI RIVER PROJECT. INITIAL CLEAN-UP:

March 2001 to March 2002
Mandate: To remove all solid wastes from the river bed, banks and riparian zone for a distance of 27km from Alexandra downstream, including removal of felled alien trees left in floodplain by others (Working for Water).
Actual: Cleaned up and maintained 48 km of the Jukskei River and its tributaries (over-achieved target by 78%) and completed 3 months ahead of schedule.

• Removed 12,000 tons of solid waste at a cost of R4-million (R1.9M to workers’ wages)
• Employed 144 previously unemployed members of the Alexandra community
• Funding agencies: Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEAT) and Gauteng provincial Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment & Land Care (DACEL)

CHEMSERVE:

Jan 2002 to Jan 2003
Mandate: To clean the Jukskei River at source (Cnr. Queen and Sports Streets, Bertrams) and extend to Bruma Lake. Encourage and educate the community members to stop littering and dumping into the river and open spaces.
Cleaned source of Jukskei River (cnr Queen/Sport Bertrams) and river for 10kms to Bruma Lake. Reduced dumping waste stream from Bertrams catchment from 300>25>2.5 t/month. The heaviest dumping area (from source, downstream for 1.5 kms) produced 6.7 tons of waste.

MUSHROOM FARM PARK (MFP):

May 2003. 1 week
Mandate: To remove all solid waste from the Sandspruit and two dams within MFP including the beds, banks, riparian zone and park. To remove invasive reeds and alien vegetation clogging the river banks and dams. To re-establish the flow of the dams and the spruit as a connected system.
1-week clean-up of Sandspruit River, dams and park: 2.3 tons waste removed, 20 jobs. Removed invasive reeds to open up flow of river and two connected dams, removed alien vegetation clogging river banks.

ABI / DPW / IDT / WITS UNIVERSITY: ALEX RIVER PROJECT.

Oct 2003 – Oct 2004 / 12 months
Mandate: To clean the Jukskei river in Alexandra for a distance of 1km upstream and 0.5 km downstream, including four main bridges clogged with solid wastes and tree stumps felled by others. To establish a community- based waste management system.
Actual:

• Project extended to March 2005 (18 months) due to income generated from waste recycling
• Selected by DPW as EPWP Case Study ref ‘The ABI-Alex River Project’ No. HP05/31, EPWP Case Study Jul-Sept 2006 by McIntosh Xaba & Associates (only 4 from 20000 projects were selected as Case Studies);
• 1 600 tons waste removed from river (1 017 tons in first 3 months in capital clean-up of accumulated waste in river, 583 tons removed over next 15 months as much-reduced return waste flow);
• R5.9M wages/earnings to 400 beneficiaries (previously unemployed Alexandrians recruited via Zivuseni Poverty Relief Program);
• EPWP targets for employment/job creation exceeded by more than 100%;
• 1600 Households, 2 Hostels, 5000 Residents in Alexandra recruited into program for waste separation;
• Training: 6 Environmental Leaders, 6 Project Managers, 8 Community Leaders / Mobilisation;
• Entrepreneurs developed: 15 PDI’s from Alexandra;
• Water Quality: Solid waste removal, community monitoring, reporting, remedial action: E Coli reduced from 24M to 98K/100 ml (Wits Univ.)
• Recycling: 300 tons in pilot scheme, informal buyback at abandoned school, R10 000-16 000/month earned, Goods for Waste coupon system established on trial basis, 15 entrepreneurs developed.

GREENHOUSE PROJECT (GHP):

Jan 2006 to April 2006 / 4months
Mandate: To establish a recycling system for GHP, in-house and for surrounding 1km square area, utilizing a buyback centre built by GHP and training 15 GHP beneficiaries to implement and maintain the system. Supply all relevant equipment and co-ordinate recycler partner participation and purchase of all recyclables.
Community waste buy-back centre established, Joubert Park, Greenhouse Project spearhead, JhB. Cleaned and maintained grounds and surrounds ie: Joubert Park, Johannesburg Station, Taxi rank and vendor area, and surrounding shebeens. Achieved 5 tons per week recyclables sold within first month (glass, cans, plastics and cardboard).

JHB METRO:

Dec 2006 to May 2007 / 7 months
Mandate: Clean and maintain 1.5km of Jukskei River, De Wetshof, Bezuidenhout Park.
1-month clean-up plus 6-months maintenance, Jukskei River: 7.63 tons waste removed from river. Employed 10 Alexandra contractors trained by Soul to implement and maintain system.

FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT: 2005-2007

• Developed Give & Gain™ licensed franchise for recycling and proprietary equipment line; based on model and feedback over series of 3 stakeholder workshops held 2004-5, incl Sappi, Consol, Nampak, IWMSA, Buyiesa e Bag, PlasFed, WESSA, ARP, WRC, Pikitup,
• Developed River Health licensed franchise for national river-cleaning programmes, with customized Equipment Pack.

Licence agreements prepared by Deneys Reitz (Soul national legal partner).

TOYOTA RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME:

Established Sept 2006 / SOUL appointed as Toyota SA National Coordinator for River Projects.
River Health licence for Dealer Roll-Out. In current programme from September 2006-date, removed 140 tons of solid waste from:
Jukskei River (Gauteng - Toyota Marketing Head Office);
Isipingo River (KZN - Toyota Prospecton Plant);
Liesbeek River (W Cape - Toyota Culemborg); and
Sterkspruit River (Mpumalanga – Toyota Lydenburg).

TOYOTA WASTE-FROM-HOME

Launched June 2007
Mandate: To establish an in-house “Waste from Home” recycling system with 1000 Toyota employees at Head office in Sandton. Supply all relevant equipment and training. Provide project management, monitoring and reporting.

• Purchased Give & Gain™ licence in June 2007
• Waste-from-Home / in-house waste separation at source
• Corporate Recycling model: 1000 employees, 20% with private transport;
• More than 4 tons waste recycled to date from 200 employees with private transport to work;
• Established in-house communications program with marketing Dept. including e-mail awareness campaign, posters, educational fridge magnets and booklet, and launch competition.

WITS JOINT RECYCLING PROJECT:

Launched 3 September 2007
Mandate: To establish an in-house recycling program through waste separation at source with Wits Medical School and associated contractors of the university. Train contractors in model systems, environmental education and awareness with the 3500 students and 1500 employees and associated income stream to reduce costs of university waste disposal and impact on the environment. Rollout to all faculties in future.
Customized Soul Foundation® Give & Gain™ licensed model purchased by Wits Medical School for pilot scheme for 3500 students and 500 staff, launched September 2007, for roll-out to all faculties subsequently. In the first few months of operation more than XX tons of recyclable waste was recovered rather than being dumped to landfill as previously.

VODACOM

Commenced 20 November 2007
Mandate: To arrange, coordinate and carry out a river-cleaning programme on the Jukskei River, Alexandra, Gauteng, commencing with a river clean-up event 20-22 November 2007.
Over the period 20-22 November 2007, 10.8 tons (3 425 bags) of solid waste and 4.3 tons of alien/invasive green waste was removed from the river-bed, banks and surrounds around Marlboro Bridge, Alexandra in a multi-party collaboration which provides the basis for establishing an Environmental Round Table for the Alexandra area. The aim is to establish a waste recycling system in Alexandra, to prevent river pollution from this source, and to utilise the income from the sale of recyclable waste for a trained group from the community to self-sustainably maintain this section of the Jukskei River.

CURRENT PROJECTS-IN-PROGRESS:

• Developed a rural plan for P.E.A.C.E Foundation in waste management.
• Endangered Wildlife Trust training of conservation leadership group by SOUL Foundation in live projects

ASHOKA

Mandate: Collaboration between Ashoka Fellows to maximise impact of Ashoka Global Water & Sanitation Initiative. The vehicle is WET Africa.
Ashoka is a global (68 countries, currently 2000 Fellows worldwide) organisation promoting social entrepreneurship for large-scale social change. Kim was nominated as a fellow in 2003.
Soul Foundation/ Kim Kieser has been invited by Ashoka as a leading fellow in establishing a new global initiative for water and sanitation, sponsored by Ashoka and linking with Ashoka Fellows worldwide and their associated networks. First workshop held in RSA in March 2008, led by Ashoka global office, collaborators include David Strelneck (global office USA), Erin Fornoff (Global Fellowship USA), Marita Oosthuizen (Regional Office RSA), and Ashoka Africa Fellows: Kim Kieser (RSA), David Kuria (Kenya), Sameh Ghali (Egypt), Osmond Mugweni (Zimbabwe), Isaac Durojaiye (Nigeria), Joseph Adelegan (Nigeria), Paul Cohen (RSA) and Trevor Mulaudzi (RSA). Immediate Action Projects are:

• Scaling up Industrial Biogas Digester (led by Joseph Adelegan, Nigeria)
• Sustainable Communities (led by Paul Cohen, RSA)
• Community and School Sanitation (led by Trevor Mulaudzi, RSA)
• Sustainable Rivers and Integrated Waste Management (led by Kim Kieser, RSA)
• Ashoka Global Water & Sanitation Knowledge/Action/Marketing Model (led by Kim Kieser, RSA)
• Dept Water Affairs and Forestry. Prepared business plan and terms of reference for river health and recyling for Thembisa Township
• Waterfall Development Co. 8km Jukskei River clean-up in preparation for the development of a housing project.

©Soul Foundation® 2009

WET-Africa Flagship 67

Flagship programme: 67km Jukskei River Restoration

Our Vision:
To facilitate creating green corridors along waterways from source to sea in South Africa.
Our flagship is the restoration of the Jukskei River, Johannesburg Gauteng, from source to the Crocodile River confluence, then to Hartebeespoort Dam and ultimately the sea. In the process we restore endangered rivers to living rivers, create conservancies, community assets and a Green Market Stock Exchange.

Our Mission:
To mobilize South Africa into a green and recycling mindset by creating sustainable green communities, separating all recyclable wastes at source and utilizing the income to assist in sustaining community-based Buy Back Centres. To implement our sustainable Waterway Restoration and River Health system, creating community-based enterprises, recreational conservancies and Eco-Tourism. This includes Green building and energy generation, waterless sanitation, vermi-composting, organic vegetable and herb gardens. To restore indigenous forestation and create walkways, cycle paths, equestrian activities. Create opportunity for adventure operators, eco and recycle entrepreneurs and the hospitality industry. Lastly, to coordinated and work in partnership with Ashoka Global Changemakers and UC Berkeley alumni, service providers, relevant organs of state, civil society, businesses and local communities.

Objectives of WET-Africa include:
Create an enabling environment for integrated waste management and river health
Provide a database of know-how in waterway rehabilitation
Supply custom made equipment for waterway rehabilitation and recycling
Create community Enterprises for River restoration and integrated waste management including separation of waste at source for resale to recyclers.

Implementation Plan: Year 1
Establish WET- Jukskei South Africa Flagship program of 67km Restoration and Integrated waste management creating immediate 500 jobs
(Phase 1 – Eco Services)
Water quality testing and Biomonitoring and producing academic papers.
Clean up of watercourse removing all solid waste and obstructions.
Monitoring and reporting spillages and dumping for remedial action and/or prosecution
Integrated waste recycling systems with surrounding communities, business and industry.
Social, Economic and Environmental measurable deliverables/indicators
Planning and establishing collaboration partners for waterway restoration and eco-tourism for phase 2

Awareness, advocacy and capacity building
Launch the 1 000 Schools and Churches Recycling Campaign and collection system
Establish relevant institutional, civil and community partnerships and collaborations
Establish a local, regional, National and global Round Table
Establish Academic collaborative partnerships with UC Berkeley and the Center for Sustainable Resource Development and links to local universities in implementing countries.
Establish the platforms for replication in 6 to 9 provinces in South Africa
Establish the platforms for replication in 10 countries (including Africa 6) with Ashoka fellows and UC Berkeley ELP Alumni who are collaborating with SOUL to establish the WET-Africa model in their countries and integrate own innovations.
Establish the planning and development of an Innovation Leadership Training Institute and Conference Center.

Sustainability
Establish the Green Market Stock Exchange Investment vehicle
Establish community partner micro enterprises maintaining established systems.

Wet Africa Scope Flagship Programme Scope

Wet-Africa / Give & Gain Recycling Opportunity

Does your community organisaton need regular additional income? www.Wet-Africa.org in co-operation with Give & Gain Recycling (G&G) provides an opportunity for schools, churches and other community organisations to earn additional income by providing a collection point for recyclable household and general (non-hazardous) refuse such as:

• Glass
• Paper, Cardboard
• Plastics
• Metals / Cans

This G&G recycling scheme is only for bona-fide community organisations such as Schools, Churches and Stokvels and is provided on the following basis:

• G&G recycling provides know-how, training & development, a proven business model, branded & colour coded collection bags, signage and awareness generation know-how for the project
• G&G provides refresher training and equipment as required
• Your organisation provides space for the collection point and raises awareness around the project to members
• Recyclers will pick up recyclables from collection points when requested to do so according to an SLA
• Recyclers will provide relevant skips for the collection areas
• Recyclers will pay your organisation monthly via EFT

Research & experience has shown that a school with 1000 learners will generate approximately R14,000 per month - or around R170,000 per annum which represents on-going income and a positive project around which to animate your community. For further information, please send us a message on http://www.wet-africa.org/contact alternatively, please go to http://www.wet-africa.org/recycling.opportunity.schedule , download the application and fax to us on 0865692940.

Attachment	Size
INFORMATION on Joburg 1000 Schools and Churches Recycling Campaign 01 June 2009 (.pdf)	125.64 KB
AGENT INFORMATION on Joburg 1000 Schools and Churches Recycling Campaign MARGIE.pdf	126.83 KB
AGENT- DRAFT SCHEDULE to complete- Schools_Waste Recycling Opportunity.pdf	137.13 KB