Educational Projects
Wildlife & Environment Society of SA – Umgeni Valley, KwaZulu Natal
WESSA is one of the leading environmental education organisations in the country and provides full training and support for environmental educators throughout South Africa. Each year thousands of school pupils and their teachers attend courses in the beautiful Umgeni Valley Reserve to learn about the environment and how to protect it. Their education department also develops and distributes huge volumes of education resource material via Sharenet to educators and learners throughout South Africa.
A related major education outreach initiative is the Eco-Schools program, which in partnership with the Department of Education, is assisting over 1000 school communities in achieving sustainable development in some of the poorest areas in the country. Over 300 schools successfully achieved the internationally recognised Green Flag award in 2006. These schools were recognised for projects such as school and community vegetable gardens, thereby contributing towards food security in the area, as well as to local management and community upliftment.
Another vital role played by WESSA is the watchful eye they keep on commercial developments in SA that could harm our precious environment and are directly involved in guiding and lobbying Government on major environmental issues.
Chief Executive Director: Ms. M. Gumedi / National Manager for Environmental
Education : Dr. Jim Taylor
Address: Po Box 394, Howick, 3290
Phone/Fax : (033) 3303931 / 3304576
Email : jt@wessa.co.za
Website : www.wildlifesociety.org.za
Wildlife and Environment Society of SA – Eastern Cape
The WESSA Eastern Cape branch is situated in Port Elizabeth and fulfills a similar role to that outlined above for their headquarters in Umgeni Valley.
Project Executant: Mr. Morgan Griffiths
Address : Po Box 12444, Centrahil 6006, Port Elizabeth.
Phone/Fax : (041) 5859609/5863228
Website : www.wildlifesociety.org.za
Delta Environmental Centre/Water Wise Education Group - Gauteng
Most city dwellers do not have the opportunity to study the environment first hand and the Delta Environment Centre addresses this lack by providing education programs at a facility set in the 100 ha Delta Park in Johannesburg. The majority of course participants are school groups who attend exciting 3 hour programs devised to educate and entertain. Delta operates a dynamic well equipped resource centre and a natural history museum.
Delta and Rand Water have also established the Water Wise Education Group which visits schools and communities and encourages students and trainers to establish environmental clubs, identify the environmental status of river catchments , especially water quality and to promote the wise use and conservation of water.
Project Executant : Ms Di Beeton
Address : Pvt. Bag X6, Parkview, 2122, Johannesburg
Phone/Fax : (011) 8884831/8884106
Email : delta.enviro@pixie.co.za
Website : www.deltaenviro.org.com
Eco-Schools Program
For many years the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA has been involved in environmental education programs in the Eastern Cape. Forming a formidable partnership with the Department of education, to assist over 1000 school communities in achieving sustainable development in some of the poorest rural areas in the province. During 2007 over 300 schools successfully achieved the internationally recognised Green Flag award, which is a first for South Africa. These schools were recognised for projects such as integrating school and community gardens, thereby contributing towards food security in the area, as well as to local resource management and community upliftment.
Project Executant : Ms Laura Conde-Aller
Address: WESSA Border-Kei, Po Box 2909, Beacon Bay 5202, East London
Phone/Fax : (043) 7485798/7485816
Email : laura@wessabk.co.za
Conservation Leadership Group - EWT
The Conservation Leadership Group is an Endangered Wildlife Trust working Group which aims to inspire environmental awareness and responsibility in the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa. Apart from building capacity in aspiring conservationists through innovative high impact mentorship, training and education programs, it sets out to effectively mobilise and empower these future leaders in conservation through exposure to experiential training and real employment opportunities.
Project Executant: Mr. Graeme Wilson
Address : Endangered Wildlife Trust, Pvt. Bag X11, Parkview, 2122
Phone/Fax : (011) 4861102/4861506
Email : graemew@ewt.org.za
Website : www.ewt.org.za
Sustainable Living Education Project - BLSA
The program is aimed at the youth - primarily at previously disadvantaged schools, and sets out to provide teachers with the tools to educate young people about responsible living in the human/natural environment and to instil a culture of appreciation and respect for nature. These principles are introduced into the normal teaching curriculum and have been endorsed and promoted by the National Department of Education. The program has been introduced into 75 Eco-Schools that are managed by the BirdLife Education Division and is a key element of the BLSA National Bird Week. Another activity is the Clear Channel Bird Reserve which is currently being developed as an educational facility in the Greater Johannesburg region where learners are given the opportunity to engage in habitat management, alien invasive control, water studies and bird observations.
Project Executant: Mr. Joe Peu
Address: BirdLife SA, Po Box 515, Randburg, 2125
Phone / Fax: (011) 7891122 / 7895188
Email: education@birdlife.org.za
Website: www.birdlife.org.za
EIA Training Project - WESSA
South Africa is currently in an unprecedented development phase and there is an urgent need to create public awareness of environmental rights and responsibilities and promote public participation to ensure better environmental decision making and sustainable development.
The project sets out to equip a significant number of WESSA staff and members with the capacity to make meaningful comment on Environmental Impact Assessments within their areas and the development of a structured EIA training program for use by the layman.
This is in support of the Constitutional right of all citizens to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to ecologically sustainable development.
Project Executant: Mr. Chris Galliers
Address: Wildlife & Environment Society of SA, Po Box 394, Howick, 3290, KZN
Phone / Fax: (033) 3303931 / 3304576
Email: chris@wessa.co.za
Website: www. wildlifesociety.org.za
Please note that the Mazda Wildlife Fund website is outside of Mazda. Clicking on the link will open a new window.
