In honour of Earth Day and its 30th anniversary, Vodacom South Africa hosted a vibrant showcase and cook-off cantered around sustainable food sourcing. This event, a highlight of Vodacom’s RedLovesGreen campaign, rallied Vodacom customers, colleagues, and community members to create healthy and planet-friendly dishes, embodying the ethos of sustainable living.
Takalani Netshitenzhe, Director of External Affairs for Vodacom South Africa, underscored the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “Our focus for Earth Day this year was sustainably sourced foods. Sustainable farming, fishing, and consumption are vital for meeting present and future needs while safeguarding environmental health, social progress, and economic prosperity.”
The RedLovesGreen Immersion Day, attended by Vodacom executives, staff, customers, community members, and sponsored sports team members, featured a myriad of activities aimed at sharing tips for sustainable living. From growing vegetables in personal gardens to cooking with sustainable ingredients and practicing recycling and upcycling, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences to protect the planet.
Netshitenzhe emphasized the inclusivity of the event, stating, “An important aspect of this day was finding a way to include our customers, members of the community, and colleagues in the activities. Through this showcase and our various partner initiatives, we aim to educate our entire Vodacom community on sustainable living.”
Exciting partners joined the event, including Tweak, developers of Vodacom’s Carbon Calculator, and the World Wide Fund for Nature, supporting the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative. Additionally, the African Children’s Feeding Scheme (ACFS), a longstanding partner of Vodacom, provided home-grown vegetables sourced directly from community gardens, highlighting the importance of local sustainability efforts.
Mezzanine, a Vodacom subsidiary, also participated, showcasing innovative technology solutions for smallholder and commercial farmers across Africa. With digital technology playing a crucial role in climate change resilience and boosting agricultural productivity, Mezzanine’s presence underscored Vodacom’s commitment to advancing sustainable practices.
The event culminated in resounding success, with participants leaving not only with satisfied stomachs and prizes but also with newfound knowledge and tools for contributing to a sustainable future. Netshitenzhe expressed pride in Vodacom’s efforts over the past 30 years to promote education around sustainable farming and consumption, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security, promote sustainable agriculture, and combat climate change.
In the collective effort to make small changes towards sustainable consumption, Vodacom exemplifies the potential for corporations to drive positive environmental impact and foster a brighter future for generations to come.
