Recycling rubbish into toys

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Resourceful Mossel Bay children are making their own toys, using juice and milk cartons, twine and plastic lids.

Jeanette Gouws, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) councillor in Mossel Bay, was enchanted to see children playing with their handmade toys last week.

She posted pictures of the children's little trucks and trailers on her Facebook page and the Mossel Bay Advertiser enquired about them.

Gouws said: "I had gone to Mzathi Street in Asla Park to drop off some items for a soup kitchen. I drove by some children playing with their toys. I stopped and spoke to them.

"There were quite a few children. One boy was further along the street. I chatted to him and his mom came out of her house and I spoke to her too. I did not realise the boys were getting the items to make their toys off a dumpster."

The boys rummaged through the rubbish in the dumpster to find the choice items for their handiwork.

"I gave a boy some money to buy cooldrinks in cartons, so he could get four more wheels for his trailer. While we were chatting, I asked why he had put a weight in the car he had made. He said it kept it stable on the road. He was eight years old."

Gouws said sponsors had helped her to buy a large pot for a soup kitchen in Mzathi Street. She handed the pot over to a pastor involved with the soup kitchen.

Asla Park children's handiwork. Photos: Jeanette Gouws