Making a Change Awarded a Grant to Clean Up the Soet River
This is a huge moment for us.
Making a Change has officially been awarded a grant from the Department of Water and Sanitation to help clean up the Soet River—and that support means one thing: the clean-up isn’t just an idea anymore. It’s happening.
If you’ve ever driven past the area and seen litter building up along the riverbanks, plastic caught in the reeds, or the water looking unhealthy, then you already understand why this matters. The Soet River should be a natural lifeline for the community—not a dumping ground.
Why the Soet River matters
A river isn’t just “water in a channel.” It affects everything around it:
Health and hygiene: Pollution attracts pests, creates bad smells, and can increase the risk of illness—especially for kids who play nearby.
The environment: When plastic and waste enter the river system, it doesn’t just disappear—it travels, breaks down into smaller pieces, and harms wildlife.
Community pride: When an area looks neglected, it starts to feel neglected. A cleaner river can change how people feel about their neighbourhood.
What this grant helps us do
This funding gives us the ability to take action in a proper, structured way—not just “one clean-up and done,” but a real campaign with momentum.
Our plan is to:
organise clean-up days with volunteers who are ready to get their hands dirty for a good cause
remove and dispose of waste correctly, so we’re not just moving trash from one place to another
document everything (before-and-after photos, volunteer registers, waste logs), because impact should be visible and measurable
create awareness content—videos that show the reality of the pollution and the change that’s possible when people come together
work with the community so this doesn’t end with one clean-up, but becomes a shift in mindset
Our bigger vision
Yes, we want to remove waste. But the bigger goal is to stop the pollution at the source.
That means building long-term awareness and encouraging responsibility—because a clean river won’t stay clean if people keep dumping. We want the Soet River to become a place the community can be proud of again, and we want this project to prove something simple:
When the community and support structures work together, real change is possible.
How you can be part of it
If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in something meaningful, this is it. Whether you’re someone who can volunteer, share our posts, help spread awareness, or simply encourage others to care—you’re part of the solution.
This grant is a big win, but it’s also a big responsibility. And we’re ready.
The Soet River clean-up starts now. Let’s make a change—together.
