Help us Fly! Support the work of Wet-Africa.org

This is an archive version of the appeal - Kim is back from NYC now. Thanks for all support!

Dear Friends of the River - 12th August 2009

Kim Kieser has a fantastic opportunity to get the whole WET-Africa programme* up and running before December 2009. We have been invited to meet Bill Clinton and many very wealthy, willing donors who are committed to funding projects like ours.

Here's a bit from the press release:

New York - President Bill Clinton today announced the program for the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to be held September 22-25 in New York City. "As the Clinton Global Initiative approaches its Fifth Annual Meeting, I am looking forward to working together with some of the world’s most forward-looking CEOs, leaders from government and innovative non-profits to make progress on the great global challenges," President Clinton said. "Through our Annual Meeting, CGI members have made upwards of 1,400 commitments that have already impacted more than 200 million people in 150 countries. I am excited to see what this year’s Annual Meeting will bring."

To read the rest, go to http://www.wet-africa.org/?q=clinton.global.initiative.september.2009 Here you can also read more about WET-Africa if you don't know about our dream to turn the Jukskei into a beautiful place that everybody can enjoy, while creating countless opportunities, jobs and entrepreneurs for the unemployed and restoring our rivers and biodiversity.

We have already had a lot of interest from this organisation and they have waived our membership fee. But I need to get there. And Greg and Margie should come along too, because there are so many people to meet and also to host our table - which you can use to sell yourselves. To do this, we need R300 000 for travel, hotels, media pack and to keep the business going. We have a real chance for the Jukskei River to look fabulous for the 2010 visitors. And think about all the jobs that we can instantly create. But we have to hurry...

Please help. In exchange, donors will be featured in our media pack that will be exchanged with delegates and the media. Donors will also be featured as Friends of the River on www.wet-africa.org. Send to everybody you know who may have access to a river-loving donor.

*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.

Help us make the dream a reality!

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

or deposit your contribution directly in to our bank acc
Reference HelpUsFLY and your name

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

Kim Kieser
CEO Founder
The SOUL Foundation
kim.kieser@wet-africa.org

Kim Kieser to represent wet-africa.org at Clinton Global Initiative meeting September 21-25 2009

Kim Kieser has been invited to participate and represent wet-africa.org at the 5th annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City.

June 22nd, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Clinton Foundation Press Office
press@clintonglobalinitiative.org
212.348.0360

President Clinton Announces Program for 2009 Clinton Global Initiative

New York - President Bill Clinton today announced the program for the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to be held September 22-25 in New York City.

"As the Clinton Global Initiative approaches its Fifth Annual Meeting, I am looking forward to working together with some of the world’s most forward-looking CEOs, leaders from government and innovative non-profits to make progress on the great global challenges," President Clinton said. "Through our Annual Meeting, CGI members have made upwards of 1,400 commitments that have already impacted more than 200 million people in 150 countries. I am excited to see what this year’s Annual Meeting will bring."

Since 2005, more than 80 current and former heads of state; hundreds of leading CEOs, philanthropists, and NGO leaders; and 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize laureates have attended CGI. This year, President Clinton will again be joined by leading voices from every sector to take action on four major global challenges: education, energy & climate change, global health, and poverty alleviation.

The following are among those who have confirmed their attendance at the 2009 CGI Annual Meeting: 35 current and former heads of state, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Larry Summers, Valerie Jarrett, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, Angela Braley of WellPoint, John Chambers of Cisco, James Dimon of JP Morgan Chase & Co., Mike Duke of Wal-Mart, Carlos Ghosn of Nissan Motor, Muhtar Kent of The Coca-Cola Company, Jack Ma of Alibaba Group, Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo, Inc., and Carlos Slim Helú of Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V.

For the Fifth Annual Meeting, CGI is introducing four new Action Areas – points of collaboration and intervention – that will guide CGI’s program. These new areas will empower CGI’s members to make concrete Commitments to Action that will yield a positive, measurable impact on the global challenges we all face.

The 2009 Action Areas are: Harnessing Innovation for Development; Strengthening Infrastructure; Developing Human Capital; Financing a Sustainable Future. Each Action Area cuts across CGI’s four global challenges.

Harnessing Innovation for Development

Technological, business, and organizational innovations that translate today’s social and environmental challenges into opportunities for development can be a critical source of economic value. Leading corporations are creating new products and services to meet worldwide demand for affordable, nutritious, and safe food; decent housing; capital; energy efficiency; and more.

Strengthening Infrastructure

In the absence of clean water, health facilities, housing, transportation, clean energy, and other vital systems, societies and businesses will not realize their full potential. Governments around the world are expanding their financial commitments to infrastructure, creating diverse investment opportunities and improving the quality of life for societies.

Building Human Capital

Businesses and societies require a healthy, well-educated, and properly trained workforce to thrive. Yet fundamental education and labor-market challenges threaten the well-being of global workforces. As the global community seeks to recover from an economic slowdown, job creation will be more important and challenging than ever. Fortunately, there are opportunities to be seized in emerging industries and markets, where jobs can be created in ways that also address social and/or environmental challenges throughout the supply chain.

Financing an Equitable Future

Despite the current economic crisis, investment opportunities are expanding in emerging markets that promise to contribute to sustainable economic growth and development worldwide. A new destination for capital is “impact investing,” which aims to generate financial returns in addition to social impact. Cooperation between the public, philanthropic, and private sectors is essential to build a sound financial infrastructure to support the growth of impact investing.

On Thursday, September 24, President Clinton will host the third annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which recognizes extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated innovative leadership in solving pressing global challenges. Through their work, these honorees have proven that cross-sectors of society, including governments, corporations, philanthropists and non-governmental organizations, can work together successfully to implement and devise solutions that effect positive, lasting social change.

As a non-profit organization, CGI depends upon sponsorship assistance to fund its operations and Annual Meeting. CGI would like to thank Tom Golisano, major underwriter of the Annual Meeting. CGI also thanks the following sponsors: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, Calyon, CLSA, Cisco Systems, Dell, Deutsche Bank, Duke Energy, The Economist, Energy Developments and Investments Corporation, EKTA Foundation, Exxon Mobil, Goldman Sachs, Grupo ABC, Hewlett-Packard, Inter-American Development Bank, Laureate Education, Melvin and Bren Simon Foundation, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Swiss Re.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to affect almost 160 million people. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; CGI Asia; and MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI will hold its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit the Clinton Global Initiative Website

PRESS RELEASE - Johannesburg 6th October, 2009

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Clinton Global Initiative recognises SA Ecopreneurs

Good news for environment & poverty in Gauteng

Johannesburg 6th October, 2009

Water Environment Transformation (Wet-Africa.org) and The SOUL Foundation have been identified by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) for presenting an exemplary model for global transformation. Wet-Africa was one of a few project commitments from around the world honoured in this way. Kim Kieser, CEO Founder of Wet-Africa who accepted the award said she was delighted for the recognition and the quality of connections made with political and business leaders from around the world. “We have exceeded our expectations and are looking to establish several global WET programs and not just platforms as initially anticipated”

The other 3 Ecopreneurs from Wet-Africa to be recognised were Greg Steenveld, Margie Kolver and Brylyne Chitsunge. Wet-Africa.org is a Johannesburg-based NGO specialising in watercourse rehabilitation that achieves sustainably clean waterways and poverty alleviation.

WET-Africa's commitment to CGI is to rehabilitate 67km (42 miles) of the polluted Jukskei river in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The Catchment area houses over 5 million people of which at least 43% are unemployed. The program includes cleaning and dredging the watercourse, establishing integrated waste management systems and recycling, forestation, eco-agriculture and return of pollinators, adventure operators, educational programs and eco-tourism. The program creates multiple income streams through the sale of recyclable material, carbon credits, eco markets and entry fees or membership to the green corridor. The commitment will create 500 Green jobs, 9 Eco-Enterprises and 90 Eco-preneurs.

In addition, WET-Africa has committed to establishing platforms in other countries, a Green Market Stock Exchange, a plan for a WET innovation training center and sustainable farm. The total cost of this project is $20 Million which includes current partnerships, contributions and development costs that include establishing global collaborations open to Ashoka Fellows, ELP Alumni and other outstanding innovators. The SOUL Foundation NGO established Wet-Africa in 2008 to implement SOUL's transformation model and collaboration programme. Further information from info@wet-africa.org - 073-656-2555

SOUL Foundation Activities - WET-Africa Status Report

Update SOUL Foundation Activities
Post UCB IBD Report and Recommendations
20 September 2010
Kim Kieser

Our immediate strategy is to adopt 67km of the Jukskei River (source to Crocodile River Confluence) for full restoration, recreation and re-establishing biodiversity. We aim to start with Alexandra (Phase 1/ leg 3), the highly polluted critical poverty node on the Jukskei River.

SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES

SOUL’s primary mission is to start the program with WET-Jukskei: (see attached proposal DWA Interim fast track Proposal).

• Alexandra Project (Phase 1 WET-Jukskei 67)
• Assisting community members/communities to adopt sections of the Jukskei and/or tributaries Sandspruit, Braamfontein Spruit and the Klein Jukskei. Each River adoption would require a champion.
• As recommended by the UCB team, I am in the process of establishing the Jukskei Restoration District JRD and cornerstone members. The JRD will provide sustainable income for the program through membership of beneficiaries of the eco-services the program provides. The first two JRD Cornerstone members targeted are DWAE and Waterfall Estates.
• We are also in the process of mapping the River and developing a database of all beneficiaries of the eco-services WET will provide in the Catchment. These will be targeted as members of the JRD

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

We are in discussions with Minister Sonjica DWAE (National Dept Water Affairs and Environment) to form a PPP partnership with SOUL to implement WET-Jukskei 67 (SOUL-CGI Commitment) as a Ministerial Legacy Project, and for DWAE to facilitate/provide the sovereign guarantee required to secure the minimum $32 Mill approved by CGI Member/Financier for the CGI/SOUL Commitment. This figure could go up as we are currently doing a 5 year plan as requested by the Minister DWAE.

DWAE Minister is adopting WET-Jukskei as a Ministerial project and will assist to coordinate relevant government department’s to play their role in accordance with their mandated responsibilities. We met with the Minister and her Task team, on the 14th July.

MEETINGS

i)I met with our partners Deneys Reitz Attorneys (pro-bono) 09 July 2010 and 31st August to follow up on legal structuring of the WET model as recommended by UCB, including the planned systems and method of implementation of the UCB recommendations by SOUL foundation/ Kim Kieser.

JRD
Loan Repayment

As recommended by UCB/Report SOUL will establish the Jukskei Restoration District JRD as outlined in the Sovereign Guarantee request from SOUL to DWAE.
(Sovereign Guarantee Letter request from SOUL to DWAE attached.)

The UCB Haas School of Business feasibility study and recommendations (June 2010) concludes that “WET-Africa can achieve net surplus from annual operations by year 3, but will need to obtain upfront capital to offset unfunded expenses in the first years of operation when maintenance costs are higher and membership is still building”.

In the WET Jukskei 67 proposal/ business plan the loan is to be repaid by establishing the ‘Jukskei Restoration District’ (JRD), consisting of all corporate and other significant waste generators, polluters, water users, large scale land owners and employers in the Catchment, who would pay Annual Membership fees for the eco-services provided in the WET Jukskei 67 program, the improvements to the river/ Catchment/ environment and the consequent SEE benefits enjoyed by Catchment Stakeholders, with the cost spread amongst all.

Based on a JRD Membership Schedule of: eg. 300 members at R200 000 per annum each, this would generate R60 Million per annum in Membership income, i.e. R300 Million (> $32 Million), set over 5 years to repay the capital loan, financial management and finance charges. Over the next 5 years (Years 6 to 10) JRD Membership income would be used to acquire Land/ Open Space on Jukskei/ creating JRD Conservancies and Eco-Hubs for training, education, research in ‘living labs’, hospitality, nature trails and ecotourism.

The JRD would also be a vehicle for Members to exercise their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) initiatives, with full Scorecards including BB-BEE et al.

All income created by WET-Jukskei operating entities will remain in WET-Jukskei to be stored (at highest return) for sustaining the program once the CGI loan is repaid by the member fees of the JRD after 5 years.
Should the JRD membership not yield anticipated returns, the stored income will be utilized to repay the loan.

Feedback Bridget King Deneys Reitz meetings 09 July/ 31st Aug 2010

All proposed (and recommendations UCB) organisational structures, membership proposals and payment structures legally and financially sound (as described above by Kim Kieser)
GMSE Green Market Stock Exchange is changed to GMIE Green Market Impact Exchange (due to legalities around calling it a ‘Stock Exchange’.

Owen to prepare

For the Sovereign Guarantee:
A Term sheet
Secure loan: SOUL Counter Indemnity to DWAE

Bridget to prepare

For the Sovereign Guarantee:
Agreement to manage disbursements in accordance with SOUL procedure and CGI Budget/ how the money will be spent, as outlined in a detailed Disbursement Manuel.
Draft the letter of intent and proposal for SG for DWAE
LENDER: Nick Souris, JEMS GPS International Corp. Member Clinton Global Initiative

Recommendation:
DeLoitte Touché to open a bank account in Soul’s name for the $32 Million -$100 Million.
DeLoitte Touché to do disbursements in accordance with the Disbursement
Manuel.

Draft a WET Member Charter

SOUL to prepare
Finalize development costs
Complete final CGI Budget for 5 years
Complete document/schedule for Income Streams
Prepare draft Disbursement Manuel

ii)Met with Deloitte Touché 22 July 2010

SOUL is in negotiations with Delloitte and Touché, a major and established accounting firm in SA to manage all disbursements in accordance with a Disbursement Manuel we are developing (as recommended by Deneys Reitz).

We are also in negotiations with Pricewaterhouse Coopers a major and established auditing firm in SA to Audit SOUL/WET financials and eco-services in accordance with the Disbursement Manuel we are developing.

Timeline

Will depend on finalizing program with DWAE and /or securing a guarantee
of the $32 Million soft loan. SOUL aims to launch implementation of WET-
Jukskei 67 October/November 2010

iii)MEETING held Wed 08 Sept 2010 Mvula Trust / DWA Civil Society and Water Quality. A high level planning meeting in Structuring the Catchment Management Agencies.

iv)I have been invited to attend a very high level Waste Management Planning Conference 15th &16th Sept with the Minister Sonjica (Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs), Gauteng MEC, Chief Director of Pollution and Waste Management, the Mayor, Director of Policy and Information Management, local and provincial government officials and key stakeholders. Also attending Margie Kolver and Dickson Monare

v)The WET-Jukskei meeting with the Minister and all relevant government stakeholders, who have a role to play, is scheduled to take place on 01 November 2010. The meeting is for the purpose of allocating roles and responsibilities, funding and launch date for the full WET -Jukskei 67 program.

As requested by the Minister I have aligned the program to the Water Affairs River Adoption Program. We have several community champions in the Jukskei Catchment who wish to adopt sections of the Sandspruit, Braamfontein Spruit and Klein Jukskei. So far we have 3 community champions adopting 1-2 km of these tributaries. The communities will join WET-Africa as members and a % of the member fees will be utilized for SOUL to train teams, supply all equipment and monitoring and support these adoption initiatives whilst doing the main vein of the Catchment ourselves being the Jukskei River.

Wet Africa.org media at the CGI in New York City Sept 22-25 NYC

This is part of a brochure created for the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City 22-25 September, 2009 by water organisation www.wet-africa.org - the graphic on the front is a tracing of the network of springs and streams from Bruma Lake in Johannesburg to Hartebeespoort Dam. This riverine network includes the Braamfontein spruit and the Jukskei river that flows past Alexandra Township. Designed by Eugenie Banhegyi of www.storytelling.co.za studio

Wet-Africa.org Newsletters

Here are the official Wet-Africa.org newsletters for download in adobe .pdf format.