WESSA Schools Programme

"Designed for educators and other adults who support young people’s learning, this free global resource provides practical tools, hands-on activities, and inspiring examples to help learners investigate and protect the water environments around them."

See link in the post by Foundation for Environmental Education this World Oceans Day.



cc WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa

🌊 On World Oceans Day: 8 June, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is proud to release the Water Explorers Education Guide, developed in collaboration with Sow my Dream - Spindrift for Schools, the educational programme of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

Designed for educators and other adults who support young people’s learning, this free global resource provides practical tools, hands-on activities, and inspiring examples to help learners investigate and protect the water environments around them.

Through local exploration, hands-on learning, and real-world stories from across the FEE and Sow My Dream networks, the guide empowers adults to nurture curiosity, environmental leadership, and a deeper connection to nature in the next generation.

Together, we are helping young people become Water Explorers in their schools, communities, and beyond by building the knowledge and confidence to care for our blue planet.

Dive into the guide: https://ow.ly/VTfG50Z8mnX

“A school garden is not merely a piece of cultivated land. It is a classroom without walls. It is a source of dignity, hope, empowerment, and learning,” shared by Mrs Gxuluwe, Director of the National School Nutrition Programme during her keynote address at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Bay District Food Garden Revival Programme.

Hosted at Westview Special School in Gqeberha, the launch marked an important step in establishing learner-led, sustainable market food gardens that support food security, environmental learning, climate-smart agriculture and school nutrition programmes.

This programme supports 53 schools across the district and was made possible by the Eastern Cape Department of Education, in partnership with WESSA, Giving Them Wings, Pick n Pay, Mandela Bay Development Agency and the Department of Agriculture.

Through seedlings, seeds, soil rehabilitation support, environmental education, training and ongoing mentorship, the programme will help schools grow thriving gardens that build practical skills, entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and community resilience.

Read more via our blog post: https://www.wessa.org.za/nelson-mandela-bay-school-gardens-grow-skills-nutrition-and-climate-resilience/

Meet South Africa’s 2026 Young Reporters for the Environment national winners!

WESSA celebrates Palesa Mosegedi from Segwaneng Primary School in the Northern Cape, for her winning photograph that captures learners harvesting vegetables from their school food garden, showing how schools can become spaces of learning, nutrition and climate resilience.

Palesa will also represent South Africa in the international YRE competition.

Read more via our website blog: https://www.wessa.org.za/wessa-announces-2026-young-reporters-for-the-environment-national-winners/

Meet South Africa’s 2026 Young Reporters for the Environment national winners!

WESSA is proud to celebrate Alyssa Govenden from Crawford International Lonehill in Gauteng for her winning podcast, Wasting Food Ruins the Mood.

It explores the impact of food waste on hunger, climate change and food security.

Read more via our website blog: https://www.wessa.org.za/wessa-announces-2026-young-reporters-for-the-environment-national-winners/

Alyssa will also represent South Africa in the international YRE competition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POw_9tIbl4A

Wasting Food Ruins the Mood | WESSA YRE National Competition 2026 Winning Podcast Podcast Entry In this winning podcast entry for the WESSA Young Reporters for the Environment National Competition 2026, Alyssa Govenden, aged 12, from Crawford Internatio...

Learners at Tshepiso Primary School rolled up their sleeves to clear an illegal dumpsite, separate waste for recycling, and reclaim their environment through the Eco-Schools Project.

Supported by Clean Air Fund , South African Waste Pickers Association - SAWPA, and groundWork, this initiative is inspiring young people to be champions for clean air and safe, sustainable communities.

to community action in Boitekong, Northwest Province!

Recently, as part of the Green Rising Earth Day activities, WESSA joined Rustenburg Local Municipality, Letlotlo Recyclers, Phepafatso Group, Rescue Nature, Legae La Rona and local community members to tackle illegal dumping in Boitekong Extension 8 and 6.

Real Impact: Across two days, 156 people helped remove 108 tons of waste, rehabilitate 6.6 hectares, and plant 36 indigenous trees and 25 spekboom – restoring spaces around schools, wetlands, sports grounds and green belt areas.

Read more via our website blog: https://www.wessa.org.za/green-rising-project-earth-day-action-restores-illegal-dumping-sites-in-boitekong-northwest-province/

Green Rising Project: Earth Day action restores illegal dumping sites in Boitekong, Northwest Province - WESSA Environmental responsibility took practical shape in Boitekong, Northwest, as Green Rising events brought together local partners and community members to tackle illegal dumping, restore degraded spaces and encourage collective action for cleaner, healthier communities.

🌱 Practical solutions are taking root in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga!

Through WESSA’s Clean Air Fund project, the 'Clear Skies Eco-Schools support visit hosted about 200 Grade 6 and 7 learners at Nkonjane Primary School to take part in hands-on activities linking waste management to cleaner air.

From recycling education and Bokashi composting to Spekboom planting and establishing a school vegetable garden, learners explored how everyday actions can support healthier communities and a cleaner environment.

Read more via our website: https://www.wessa.org.za/clean-air-fund-project-practical-solutions-take-root-in-emalahleni-mpumalanga/

Thanks to our partners including Clean Air Fund, groundWork, the South African Waste Pickers Association - SAWPA, and representatives from the local municipality.

Clean Air Fund Project: Practical Solutions Take Root in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga - WESSA This session built on earlier engagements, reinforcing key lessons through hands-on environmental activities.

There’s something powerful about people coming together to make a difference.

End of April, 60 students from the The University of the Western Cape joined the UWC Nature Reserve Unit and WESSA team to help create a hybrid fire break in the reserve.

Over three days, they cleared 1,482 m² of overgrown plants – helping reduce fire risk and giving smaller indigenous plants the space they need to grow.

It was more than just hard work. It was about learning, connecting, and taking responsibility for the environment, we all share.

Read more here: https://www.wessa.org.za/uwc-community-comes-together-for-earth-day-conservation/

UWC Community comes together for Earth Day conservation - WESSA Staff and students from across all faculties dedicated time to care for the university’s treasured campus nature reserve, demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and community action.