‘Go Green & Clean’ Prince Rashid is Lead SA Hero of the month!
 Magician Rashid Juma, aka Prince Rashid who became the first ever South African and African to be awarded the Merlin Award “African Magician 2012” has shown dedication and passion for the environment when Lead SA named him “Hero of the Month” for July.
He was recognized for making a meaningful contribution to the environment and the community of Eldorado Park. His Go Green & Clean project in Eldorado Park is growing by the day and being named Lead SA “Hero of the Month is a pat on the back for being environmentally conscious as well as being an ambassador for the environment in poor neighborhoods.
With the assistance of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) this project saw the Mayor of Gauteng Parks Tau interested in partnering with Go Green & Clean to create a greener future for the community of Eldorado Park and the rest of Gauteng. The mayor was seen on 18 July 2014 with his staff members giving 67 minutes for Mandela Day cleaning up the area in Eldorado Park. They came dressed in green overalls ready to take up the challenge of a green and cleaner community.
Rashid works with a number of volunteers in Eldorado Park where they clean up dump sites and turn them into safe walkways, parks and vegetable gardens. The children can now play and the community can now enjoy a clean, safe environment without fear, in these once dangerous, overgrown alleys. Community safety is a big concern in Eldorado Park but crime in the area that has been cleaned and greened has since decreased. People are now feeling safe and secure in the clean neighborhood.
Recently his project Go Green and Clean was nominated for the Mail & Guardian Greening the future awards. ‘Go Green and Clean’ was a runner-up for the category of Community Conservation Award. “We are promoting a culture of conservation in the Eldorado Park Community and we also want to spread the awareness throughout communities in South Africa. Our next challenge will be to create the Go Green & Clean contest/ competition for all the Extensions in Eldorado Park to compete against each other for keeping their areas clean and green. Whilst doing this they stand a chance to win a fabulous prize for the community. This is an incentive to be vigilant about their environment. The prize money will be used for the community’s most pressing need such as a crèche, daycare centre, clinic or library to be built in the area. Parallel to this community competition we are also in the process to plan for a Reality Television show that will showcase the communities contesting for the big prize” said Rashid.
“We as Go Green and Clean are in high spirits to be acknowledged for our environmental projects and efforts. It isn’t easy making a difference in the community but it is worth it,” Rashid concluded.
Greener pastures for Eldorado Park’s Go Green and Clean
 Go Green and Clean nominated for the Mail & Guardian Greening the future awards on 24 June 2014 at Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel, Sandton. As a runner up for the category of Community Conservation Award, it has pushed the bar for the Eldorado Park community for being nominated against the top best companies and organisations in South Africa. For the past decade, the Mail & Guardian’s annual flagship, Greening the Future, has celebrated the achievements of South African society in sustaining a healthy planet for those who live in it.
The event promotes advocacy on sustainability issues, and present a wide range of engaging campaigns and initiatives from around the country. Go green and Clean is a green initiative that began in 2013 by Rashid Juma when he lost his daughter to cholera from a nearby dumpsite. Rashid and his team of volunteers are dedicated to help raise awareness about the dangers of pollution by cleaning up dumpsites and parks in Eldorado Park and turning them into safe and clean areas. “We are excited to be nominated for the award. We want to create a culture of environmental responsibility” said Rashid Juma- project director.
We have all heard of the array of health benefits that come with living a healthy, fit lifestyle: you're happier, energetic; you sleep better and can combat disease better. Recently the Go green and Go clean team have got the community excited to be outdoors again without fear of being victims of crime and unhealthy lifestyles. Kids are participating in soccer tournaments, were different Extensions in Eldorado Park play against each other “ By bringing parents to come and watch their kids play is incredible because kids need support from their parents and outdoor activities help reduce sickness, obesity and laziness” Rashid said.
Through this project Eldorado Park, Extension 8, was awarded the best Environmental Rehabilitation Project, at the MTK (Mma-Tshepo Khumbane) Awards which took place today on the 1st November 2013 at the Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg. The community has transformed and has united to positive changes. Johannesburg City Parks also a contributor by donating gardening tools and grass patches; Eldorado Park is looking better and safer. “We cut off the long grass where drug dealers and crime junkies used as their safe heaven and turned it into a safe walk-way” Rashid said.
Donate for a cleaner, greener environment in Eldo’s
Eldorado Park, Extension 8, was honored with the best Environmental Rehabilitation Project, at the MTK (Mma-Tshepo Khumbane) Awards by The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development which took place on the 1st November 2013.
The Eldo’s Go Green and Go Clean project founded by Rashid Juma, a well known magician and the first South African to receive the Merlin Award Africa 2012, has changed the way people perceive the Eldorado Park community.
“The community of Eldorado Park has gone through many changes in the past. We have seen it growing from being in the spot light for all the wrong reasons with drug abuse and lollipop lounges to a better community, looking forward to clean up its image. By going green and clean we want to change the situation but first we must change our habits towards harnessing a greener, cleaner environment,” said Rashid.
Rashid Juma recognized for making a meaningful contribution to the environment and the community of Eldorado Park. His Go Green & Clean project in Eldorado Park is growing by the day and being named Lead SA Hero of the Month for July 2014.
Recently his project Go Green and Clean was nominated for the Mail & Guardian Greening the future awards. ‘Go Green and Clean’ was a runner-up for the category of Community Conservation Award. “We are promoting a culture of conservation in the Eldorado Park Community and we also want to spread the awareness throughout communities in South Africa. This is a pat on the back for being environmentally conscious as well as being an ambassador for the environment in poor neighborhoods.
Eldo’s Go Green and Clean project is in need of volunteers and financial assistance as we plan to expand it to other extensions of Eldorado Park. “We need to take our environment serious and we need all the assistance we can get to improve our community” Rashid said.
 To make a donation to this initiative:
Account name: Go Green and Clean
Bank: FNB
Account Number: 62442743218
Branch: 256_005
Branch name: Dube
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