SCHOOLSPROGRAMME

There is a growing movement among educators worldwide to awaken young people to positive actions they can take on behalf of our planet while at the same time assisting and facilitating a process where the youth are capacitated through their own learning, being guided to become proactive citizens. Today’s curricula require the teaching of environmentally related topics such as climate change, food security, national and cultural identity, interaction with nature and managing waste. Through experiential learning learners are prepared and guided to fully engage in these environmental topics, becoming proactive, flexible, creative and outspoken ambassadors for the environment. Our programmes aim to prepare learners and youth for their future by providing a context in which they can hone their skills and gain the confidence needed to make a difference through their engagement in project-based work.

investing inYOUTH

WESSA is a na�onal leader in environmental educa�on, inves�ng in youth and facilita�ng transforma�on in schools through innova�ve programmes that offer project-based learning. We work with learners and teachers throughout South Africa to support and improve school curricula with regard to environmental learning, equipping children to live sustainably in the future.

WESSA is a national leader in environmental education, investing in youth and facilitating transformation in schools through five innovative programmes that offer project-based learning. Through our work with learners and teachers throughout South Africa, we are supporting school curricula with regard to environmental learning, equipping children to live sustainably in the future. Our programmes are aligned to the UN’s Sustainable

Development Goals.

EffectivePROJECTBASEDlearning

programmeECO-SCHOOLS

Eco-Schools is an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that was developed to support environmental learning in the classroom. The programme is active in almost 70 countries around the world and has been implemented in South Africa since 2003 by WESSA. The programme aims to:

With over 50% of the content in some CAPS subjects being environmental in nature, Eco-Schools makes a positive contribution towards improving education in South Africa.

The Department of Basic Education has identified the support of teachers at a local level as a key objective for achieving educational quality. The Eco-Schools programme is well placed to support this need. Teachers that participate in our Fundisa for Change training receive ongoing support when undertaking new teaching methods, in addition to resources such as the WESSA EnviroKids magazine. By partnering with higher education institutions we are able to deliver high quality

create awareness and action around social and environmental sustainability in schools support Education for Sustainable Development in the national curriculum

We reachedmore than580 000 learners and

23 000 teachersin 2017!

programmeENERGY & WATER

Protecting our water and energy resources is vital to the sustainability of South Africa. The Energy & Water programme aims to support SA youth with developing a sustainable lifestyle through practical projects, equipping them to be able to make a difference in their schools and communities. The projects are driven to create value by:

The Clean Currents Project is a collaboration between WESSA and SABMiller, implemented in rural areas in six provinces. The project aims to familiarise high school learners with renewable energy installations, which they then build at their school and in their communities.

The ROSE Foundation Used Oil Project educates learners at 60 schools in the Western Cape about the importance of responsible disposal of lubrication oil, thereby addressing illegal and harmful dumping of used oil.

The Rural Sustainable Villages Project is based on the Water-Energy-Food nexus. Through the project learners are encouraged to take supporting actions towards achieving water security, energy security and food security, which are closely linked.

We help learners make the connection between the environment, science and maths by introducing them to citizen science. Using river health monitoring tools they gain a deeper understanding of the importance of water quality. Learners upload the results from their stream assessments onto an interactive, international Google Earth map and database, thereby contributing to research.

supporting experiential learning adding value to the school curriculacreating the link from school to community

LEARNING ABOUT FORESTS (LEAF)programme

programmeYRE is a youth-led critical reporting initiative that aims to enable our youth to take a stand for their local social and environmental issues through the media of writing, photography or video. This initiative is a creative, participatory, multidisciplinary, nurturing, action and solution-oriented space for young like-minded individuals and groups to make a positive contribution to redress social and environmental injustices.

The YRE programme uses a 4-step methodological process to guide local campaigns and nurture skills in critical thinking, research and problem-solving. Youth reporters are mentored and coached to responsibly represent their schools and communities as well as to represent South Africa at International YRE competitions.

LEAF encourages project-based learning and systems thinking to increase knowledge about forests in our everyday lives, among learners, teachers and communities. The programme explores the key role

forests and indigenous trees play in enabling sustainable life on our planet,

including the cultural, ecological, economic and social functions, as well as the benefits.

The programme aims to ensure that learners:

The five LEAF themes for action projects are: Forests & Biodiversity; Forests & Water; Forests & Products; Forests & Climate; and Forests & Community.

TAKE OWNERSHIP

of natural, man-made

& woodlands forests

experience, observe and enjoy natureunderstand the relationship between people and natureare able to make decisions on local environmental issuestake ownership and responsibility for their futurehelp the earth breathe by planting indigenous trees in their schools and communities

YOUNG REPORTERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (YRE)

CONTACT US

ENTREPRENEURSHIPprogrammeWith 3.3 million youth currently out of work, preparing young people for the world of work is vital to our economic and social sustainability. Our Entrepreneurship Programme aims to provide learners with practical skills to identify and set up a sustainable business, and run it successfully. The Programme also provides a number of other useful life skills such as communication, presentation and critical thinking. EEESAY (Entrepreneurial and Environmental Empowerment for South African Youth) is a partnership between WESSA and Teach a Man to Fish, funded by EuropeAid. The experiential learning programme is helping learners at 40 schools in KZN and the Eastern Cape to become job creators rather than job seekers.

A new project under our Entrepreneurship Programme, Ready for Success, aims to provide learners with practical business development and implementation skills to prepare them for the job market or further study.

ACTION PROJECTSwith community

benefits

to partner with us in bringing about transformation in schools, and investing in the development of our youth for a more sustainable future.

Donavan FullardGeneral Manager: Schools and YouthTel 011 462 5663Cell 076 790 4989Email Donavan.Fullard@wessa.co.zawww.wessa.org.za