The Order of the Baobab in Bronze

Ms Pfarelo Rebecca Ramugondo Awarded for:

For her exceptional contribution to the upliftment of African communities who were faced with oppression and social injustices.

Ms Pfarelo Rebecca Ramugondo is from Ha-Makhuvha Village, which is situated 25 km east of Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

The river nearby the village, which was thesole supplier of household water, was turned into a dumping area and she formed a group of young women and men to clean the river, an initiative called “Tshikofokofo” adopt-a-river project, in order to have drinkable water.

Ramugondo started this project on 3 August 2010 with the aim of protecting water resources and the surrounding environment. To avoid health problems, domestic water should be free from harmful pathogens, chemicals and physical properties.

The objective of the project is to conserve and protect water resources from pollution to ensure sustainable food security and human health in the surrounding areas of Ha-Makhuvha Village.

The project was triggered by lack of water supply as communities were forced to use water from unprotected springs, which posed serious health implications.