Swop Shop start up

Four months ago I moved to South Africa and since then I have been conducting interviews in the Township of Mamelodi, sitting in on a class in Urban Transformation at the University of Pretoria,  meeting with local government officials, and volunteering for a substance abuse drop in center to get a handle of the illegal dumping that occurs in Mamelodi. I've learned a lot while I have been here and as a culmination to this project, I am opening a Swop Shop to promote sustainability and recycling! Following the model of the Eastern and Western capes, children in the community will be able to bring recycle material to the Swop Shop and trade it for points which will allow them to buy school supplies in the shop. Thankfully, we have a space to open the shop and stakeholders on board, we just need donations to buy the school supplies! A little can really go a long way here, so any and all donations are welcome and appreciated! 

I just returned from Gansbaai in the Western cape where I was able to learn about a Swop Shop model used by the White Sharks Project, pictured above with other volunteers and staff, and the potential for a similar concept in Mamelodi is HUGE! I will be leaving South Africa on the 30th of April and plan to open the shop before I depart. Will you partner with me in encouraging sustainability and recycling in Mamelodi while promoting education?

If you live in South Africa, please feel free to bring me any donations in person before the 30th of April!