2021 WESSA Annual Review

THE HILTON COLLEGE ISIVIVANE – WESSA E-STEAM IN ACTION In 2018, WESSA uMngeni Valley and Hilton College conceptualised the Isivivane Journey (Throw a stone onto the monument). Annually, the Grade 10 boys’ hike approximately 200 km and ‘journey’ from the Hilton College campus, through uMngeni Valley, into the Karkloof and Albert Falls areas. The boys collect a stone from Mount Gilboa, the highest summit in the Karkloof Range (1765 metres above sea level) and carry it ‘home’ to ‘throw it onto their monument.’ While the boys are hiking, cycling, zip-lining, canoeing, and camping, they are also fully immersed in nature where the WESSA guides educate the groups on the importance of water resource management, invasive alien protection, indigenous forest protection and biodiversity protection across at least 8 different habitats. The WESSA e-STEAM Programme is also fully integrated into the hike, where each group conducts a series of field surveys and a full catchment study of the upper uMngeni River, from Howick Falls to Albert Falls Dam, including the Karkloof, Yarrow, Molweni and uMshwati Streams, while also considering the importance of environmental education and protection.

#WOW E-STEAM PROGRAMMES GROW FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

By the beginning of 2021, the unit had secured three WESSA-ON-WHEELS e-STEAM funded projects to be implemented by the KZN Centres. We welcomed back Raymond Ngubane and Kevin Lakani , two stalwarts of our centres with a combined experience in environmental education teaching of 25 years. The implementation of these projects started in February 2021, with a series of in-school planning workshops and teacher training interventions.

Hilton College Isivivane

MTUNZINI ROTARY e-STEAM PROJECT:

The Rotary e-STEAM Project is a 3-year integrated school development programme for 10 under resourced schools in the uMhlatuze Municipality.

To enable school learners to explore environmental issues and engage in problem solving using e-STEAM and take action to improve the environment.

Raymond Ngubane (top photo) and Kevin Lakani (bottom photo) in action!

To impart knowledge about the principles required for the conservation and utilization of natural resources for the existence of mankind through environmental education.

To expose learners to protection of the environment using e-STEAM as section 24 of the constitution state that: - Everyone has the right to environment which is not harmful to their health or wellbeing - Everyone has the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

These pictures tell the story of the fantastic experience these boys had. We had another programme between 17th and 31st August 2021 (15 days).

Project objectives

We are only 6-months into a 36 month project, but are very excited by the early impact and results from what has already been achieved.

The key outcomes of the project so far include the following: • Construction of waste nets • Wind energy and deforestation control • Construction of deforestation control method • Construction of a recycling centre • Training on Invasive Alien clearing methodologies

Click here to read more about the Rotary e-STEAM project

20 Annual Review 2020-2021

Annual Review 2020-2021

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