The Giant Flag Project: something to write home about Another #GoodStory2Tell! Officially launched last Thursday at the Valley of Desolation by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Toko Xasa, the Giant Flag heralds greater benefits for the Karoo region and the nation @ large. The Giant Flag is a 66 hectare [the size of 66 soccer fields] South African flag made up of 2.5 million colourful desert plants and a 4 megawatt soler field, enough to power 4000 households. It will be visible from space. See the 2 pictures :) This is an initiative by FCB South Africa, with partners including but not limited to the DBSA, Departments of Environmental Affairs, Tourism, the Eastern Cape provincial government, Camdeboo Local & Cacadu District Municipalities & NMMU. The R180 milion project will create 700 permanent full-time jobs for locals. In addition to that, a tourism precinct including a conference centre, a hotel, a biogas facility and a 11 milion liter water reservoir will be built. Hot-air ballooning and microlight sky tours are some of the envisaged recreational activities. Upon completion, energy generated from the solar field will be sold back into the grid. Profits will go into an endowment fund aimed at creating more opportunities in the local social, green and innovation sectors through micro-loans and skils development initiatives. Beneficiaries will be required to participate in training & incubation programmes. An education fund is also planned to upgrade schools in the area and provide tertiary education scholarships! This is, indeed, a #GoodStory2Tell as it is responsive to poverty & unemployment. It will ensure food security & environmental sustainability, boost tourism & local economic development, remarkably contribute to youth & skills development! #GreenEconomy #JobCreation #CommunityDevelopment #Innovation #YouthDevelopment #SkillsDevelopment #GiantFlag #MovingSouthAfricaForward
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:10:35 +0000
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