SOS: Quinley’s quest to help heal the world

YOUNG Quinley Wild admits he is often mocked by his classmates for being vegan and for showing an interest and passion in the environment.

“It’s been really tough trying to speak to my classmates about the environment. They make fun of me for being vegan,” said the 13-year-old.

“I’ve struggled to get them to see that the world is facing a crisis and we have to make some changes. Everyone has to, to make sure that we live well in the future.”

But the mockery means little to him. He is focused on doing his part to help the environment and hasn’t given up hope that one day his classmates will understand the importance of taking care of the environment.

“I’m going to be an adult one day, and if there is no food growing and famine my life will be terrible, a real struggle… We have to make sure we have healthy soil to grow food and lots of trees to shade the Earth and reduce carbon footprints.”

In an effort to create awareness around the environment, the Cape Town-based teenager launched his

own music video, SOS (Save Our Soil). The track, released last week on a streaming platform to over 120 million viewers, focuses on humanity coming together to help heal the world.

Quinley worked closely with his mom, actress and author Casey B Dolan, and produced it in just over three-and-a-half weeks. They roped in some of South Africa’s biggest entertainers including The One Who Sings (formerly known as Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground), two-time Grammy award winner Robin Hogarth, The Khayelitsha Children’s Choir, cinematographer Falk Eggert, international director Amanda Evans, music producer Theo Crous, teenage music sensation Morgan Visser and singer Leah Clarke to feature on the song.

The song was shot with zero budget, with the majority of entertainers doing the work pro bono (free). Only the Khayelitsha Children’s Choir was paid. Any money that is made from the music video will be used to give back to the Earth, to Save Our Soil.

The 13-year-old has created a fundraiser to plant 10000 trees. They are R10 a tree in a project that ensures farmers plant the trees and nurture them for the crops they yield.

Quinley said he is thrilled to have released a music video that sends out such an important message. “It feels really good, I guess. What 13-year-old guy doesn’t want their song to be released to the world?”

To view the SOS music video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3LSpxylsPOU

To support Quinley’s campaign visit: https://www.ishaoutreach.org/ en/cauvery-calling/campaigns/sossave-soil-quinley-wild?action=1

| SUPPLIED TEENAGER Quinley Wild with The One Who Sings (formerly known as Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground).

13-YEAR-OLD Quinley Wild recently released his very own music video, ‘SOS (Save Our Soil)’.