2021 WESSA Annual Review

GROEN SEBENZA By positioning our work, through projects like the NYRI and the Groen Sebenza, we are highlighting our intent to identify, develop and unleash this capital proactively and productively into our country’s growth agenda. Further to this, WESSA Youth is undertaking the exciting task of bringing together, and coordinating for change, all youth that have been influenced by the organisation’s reach across its units and divisions in an attempt to create one of the largest NGO affiliated youth movements for a better world. These “ WESSA Alumni ” permeate almost all sectors of the social fabric of South Africa and provide WESSA Youth with an unprecedented and catalytic potential to have a substantive impact in shaping our future where the agenda is mindful of youth perspectives that enable transformative youth actions. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) embarked on a major skills development and job creation pilot programme in 2013 and named it Groen Sebenza . Starting out as a Jobs Fund Partnership Project funded by the National Treasury aimed at developing priority skills in the biodiversity sector to create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed graduates and non-graduates. The project matches young South Africans from previously disadvantaged backgrounds with experienced biodiversity professionals to learn and gain the competence and confidence to embark on rewarding and meaningful biodiversity careers.

A very special thank you to the WESSA Schools and Youth team for their continued personal and professional investment in our programmes and projects to help schools and youth craft more inclusive, transformative

and meaningful pathways for the future we need.

Workplace experience through a structured mentoring, skills development and training programme.

BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The objective of Groen Sebenza is to bridge the gap between education and job opportunities in the biodiversity sector and the green economy , aiming to develop priority

skills in the biodiversity sector in order to generate sustainable jobs for unemployed graduates and matriculants. South Africa’s green economy offers substantial opportunities for job

creation and development, particularly in biodiversity and natural resource management.

Annual Review 2020-2021

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