A new story under the shade of a new tree

Karen Watkins|Published 1 year ago

Georgia de Raedt, Nadine Hicks, Mary-Ann Fairhall and Auscarina Mkosi plant a tree at Kronendal Primary School.

In celebration of Earth Day, on Saturday April 22, and World Book Day, on Sunday April 23, Exclusive Books and Food and Trees Africa handed over eight boxes of new books and planted 25 trees at Kronendal Primary School on Tuesday April 18.

The festive event began with a performance by the school’s marimba band accompanied by music teacher Justin Masemola on drums.

Principal Nathan Leeuwendal welcomed the guests, and Brandon Grant, of Exclusive Books Canal Walk, thanked their partners, NB Publishers, Jonathan Ball and Pan Macmillan, for sharing the vision of getting more books to children.

The bookshop chain launched a campaign to drive the sales of children’s books in its stores with a portion of sales during April going to raise money for the book and tree donations.

“Our hope is that we come back to this school next year to find trees and learners just a little taller and a little wiser,” said Mr Grant.

Guests and pupils then planted 24 wild olive trees around the border of the upper playground with help from the green-fingered staff from Food and Trees Africa. This non-profit, which addresses food security, environmental sustainability and greening, has planted over 3.5 million trees over its 25 years.

Marimba musicians Morgan Marais and Samantha Tait of Grade 6.

The school’s marimba band performed, accompanied by music teacher Justin Masemola on drums.

Brandon Grant, of Exclusive Books Century City, and Kronendal Primary School librarian Suzanna Olivier unpack the boxes of new books.

Unpacking eight boxes of new books in the school library.

Alex Woolf, of Food and Trees Africa, showing pupils how to plant trees.

Getting down and dirty, Tada Nyama, Tinks Mairas and Klara van Rooyen, of NB Publishers.