Environmental activist and artist Andrea Kuska (top photograph) has announced the launch of her very first environment-focused graphic novel – Heatwave, to be made available on her website. The novel, which will be illustrated and designed solely by Andrea, highlights relevant environmental issues using fun graphic comics to easily pass the message across to a younger … [Read more...]
African Youth Summit: Our Africa, Our Ocean, Our Future
The Youth for Marine Protected Areas (Youth4MPAs) held the first-ever virtual African Youth Summit in August 2021, an opportunity for over 500 youth from across the African Continent to come together over two days and unpack ocean protection from an African perspective. The summit was conceived by the youth, for the youth, with the objective of designing an inclusive … [Read more...]
The profound mental health implications of climate change
A new report by community psychology expert, Dr Garret Barnwell, shows that climate change harms are already negatively impacting our mental well-being and these effects will only accelerate in the future, placing today’s youth and future generations in harm’s way. The findings of the report, commissioned by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) for the African Climate … [Read more...]
Charity celebrates international children feeding milestone
International school feeding charity Mary’s Meals is now reaching more than two million children in 19 countries with life-changing meals every school day, thanks to an impressive grassroots movement taking action all over the globe. The landmark achievement of the charity feeding 2 million children every school day will be officially announced and celebrated in the remote … [Read more...]
Working together to solve South Africa’s crises
My journey in activism started about four years ago, after my family was severely affected by the water crisis that hit the Western Cape. I saw first-hand how the drought was affecting small-scale farmers, including my mother, who rely on rain to grow crops and feed cattle. When you see your cows dying, you see money going down the drain. I conducted research on the internet … [Read more...]
How to build a successful career in the green sector
Turning a passion for environmental conservation into a thriving and fulfilling career is the logical step for most budding eco warriors. This often amounts to pursuing careers focused on the preservation or restoration of the environment – or green jobs. Preparing to enter the workplace and building a successful career in any environmental field requires a wide range of … [Read more...]
Fellowships key to closing gap on SA skills shortages
The latest unemployment figures in South Africa are cause for concern. Among those, the growing number of graduates who are unable to find jobs in their chosen fields or, in many cases, are employed but not in the field they studied, is telling of an even greater challenge South Africa faces. The 2019 Post-School Education and Training Monitoring report sheds some light on … [Read more...]
Teachers learn about wild food foraging at Umngeni
There is an expression; “You don’t know what you don’t know” but we beg to differ. This all becomes apparent when 26 teachers from surrounding Midlands schools gathered at the Umngeni river for an edible weed walk lead by vocal slow food activist and passionate locavore, Nikki Brighton. A gentle stroll along the river in the Umngeni Conservancy would take many of the … [Read more...]
Community programme educates learners about recycling
Packa-Ching, an innovative community recycling collection initiative is on a mission to improve South Africa’s recycling rate by mobilising schools and their learners. Started by Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation NPC (Polyco) in 2017, Packa-Ching mobile units are now operating in six areas across South Africa. Residents have so far been paid out over R2.5million for the … [Read more...]
Protecting biodiversity with better waste management
For the past 50 years, human activities have dramatically reduced biodiversity across the globe. We have, through our actions, extinguished our habitats and reduced populations of plants and wild animals by up to 60% so that today, our natural resources and the species on our planet are under threat – from us. In fact, the negative impact we have made is astounding. Just … [Read more...]
Saldanha Bay initiative links recycling to feeding scheme
In the Saldanha Bay Municipality there is a new initiative to encourage lower-income areas to participate more in recycling by feeding hungry children in return. Since 2016, the Saldanha Bay Municipality’s kerbside recycling collection service has been running well, reaching over 40% participation of households in middle and upper-income suburbs. However, in high-density, … [Read more...]
Youth programme helps to grow future leaders
The WILDTRUST, through the support and commitment of Nedbank is participating in the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme. This programme aims to reduce youth unemployment levels across South Africa by providing one-year quality work-placements aimed at affording practical and meaningful work experiences for unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 29. Following the … [Read more...]
SA youth picket in Joburg for Earth Day
On Earth Day 2021, the Climate Justice Action Group (CJAG) held a picket demonstration outside Gauteng’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) to call attention to the ongoing socio-environmental injustices that continue in South Africa. CJAG is a youth-based group facilitated by driven by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg to promote awareness of climate justice … [Read more...]
