SANBI wins coveted Gold Award at Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust Ceremony

SANBI's Greening of the Nations and Outreach Greening Programmes were the recipients of a coveted Gold Impumelelo Award, sponsored by Development Bank of Southern Africa, receiving R40 000 at the Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust Ceremony on Saturday. Held at Cape Town's City Hall, SANBI was one of 11 Gold Award winners and one of 16 projects awarded from the Western Cape.

Being awarded by Impumelelo in either of their categories, of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Star Award is no mean feat. SANBI went through Impumelelo's almost yearlong comprehensive awards selection process. After receiving submissions from more than 130 project hopefuls from around the country, the programmes were two of 75 that were selected for a rigorous project evaluation. From the evaluation reports, 44 were shortlisted for a two-day adjudication indaba. SANBI's Greening of the Nation and Outreach Greening Programmes were then selected for a joint Gold award proving itself at the forefront of innovation in the South African public sector.

Despite being put through Impumelelo's credible selection process, it was not difficult to see why these programmes were awarded a joint Gold Award. Their award worthiness stems from the good partnerships it has forged with local communities and the corporate sector. Both programmes had a strong impact on the communities in which they work. In the words of Sonia Pithey, an Impumelelo Evaluator, “one could see how a barren sand-swept schoolyard had been transformed into a ‘world-class' indigenous garden, and the ownership and enthusiasm [of the learners] had very much become an extension of the learning environment the schools”.

Not only are Impumelelo award-winners having a profound impact on their communities but they offer best practice models, like the Greening of the Nation and Outreach Greening Programmes that can easily be replicated in other areas facing similar issues in South Africa. On Saturday 40 projects were awarded in the Platinum (each receiving R50 000), Gold (each receiving R40 000), Silver (each receiving R20 000) and Star Award categories. SANBI was one of four initiatives working in the Environmental sector that won an Impumelelo award.

[Cape Town, 21 May 2008]