JCI Edinburgh Launches Water of Leith Conservation Effort

PRLog (Press Release) - May 21, 2010 -
Edinburgh’s young business people are preparing to get wet and muddy in the Water of Leith this Tuesday and it’s all in the name of conservation.

Up to 30 members of JCI Edinburgh are expected to turn out for the organisation’s first Water of Leith clean up. Volunteers will be pulling on wellies and waders and getting in the water to clean up litter and debris. They will also be removing invasive and non-native plants such as Himalayan Balsam in order to allow the natural habitat to thrive.

The event has been organised in conjunction with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The clean-up will take place both in the river and along the walkway near the Water of Leith Visitor Centre.
JCI Edinburgh is part of Junior Chamber International, the worldwide personal development organisation for business people in their 20s and 30s. It offers a stimulating range of activities to enable members to develop communication, presentation, leadership, project management, networking and business skills.
Simone Medonos, JCI Edinburgh’s Communities and Environment Director, says: “This is a great way to make a difference to the community and get involved in some real conservation. It is our first environmental event but we are planning similar activities later in the year, including tree planting and beach clean ups along the east coast.”

She adds: “JCI’s personal development and training opportunities are incredibly valuable at a time when many businesses are cutting back on budgets in these areas. Our membership comes from a diverse range of backgrounds so an event like the Water of Leith clean up is a brilliant way to meet new people and learn about areas you might never come across at work.”

For an annual fee of £80, JCI members can access a wide-ranging programme of events, training and social opportunities. A voluntary organisation, JCI also has a long history of charitable work and fundraising. Recent projects have seen members volunteer at the Grassmarket Mission, a drop-in service, producing meals free of charge for those who need it most, as well as regular blood donor events.

In 2010, JCI Edinburgh is committing its resources to fund raising for the Barnardo’s Caern Project, a local charity providing short-term residential breaks and support at home, to children and young people with a profound learning disability and who may also have severe physical and emotional problems.

To register for the event, please email simone_medonos@jciedinburgh.org.uk. For more information about this and other JCI events, please visit http://www.jciedinburgh.org.uk.

Photo:
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