WESSA Schools Programme Annual Report 2019/2020

The vision of the School Programme is to transform schools through environmental teaching and learning for a sustainable future. This we do by using Environmental Education as a tool to bring about systemic and holistic change in all spheres of life.

strong focus on education for the environment which promotes the holistic development of individuals (in our case learners and teachers) to take positive and responsible action within their local environment and contexts. The WESSA Schools Programme has evolved over the years with various programmes and projects being offered across the country such as the Eskom Energy project and what is now the flagship programme, the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme . This international programme which is a FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) ecolabel and the largest global ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) programme was implemented in 2003 in South Africa. Seventeen years later, and the programme is still regarded as a key interventionist programme in South African schools that speaks to whole school development and improvement. We have adopted the concept of the cradle to career pathway to opportunity. Other programmes we have previously implemented include the International Water Explorers programme as well as launching a pilot project funded by the European Commission funded called EEESAY (Entrepreneurial Environmental Empowerment of SA Youth). This project took us into

new territory of entrepreneurship education. We have also piloted a successful ECD (Early Childhood Development) programme called Head Start which focuses on capacity development of ECD practitioners and caregivers. We look forward to getting traction on this in the months to come. The visionof theSchool Programme is to transform schools through environmental teaching and learning for a sustainable future. This we do by using Environmental Education as a tool to bring about systemic and holistic change in all spheres of life. Through living the WESSA values, we will continue with our mission of implementing high impact environmental and conservation projects which promote public participation in caring for the Earth. I have the highest regard for the skills and experience of Donavan and Cindy-Lee and the Schools team. You are indeed the backbone of the WESSA Schools Programmes, and it is your efforts and excellence in caring about the youth in South Africa, it is your passion and commitment to and caring about our teachers and learners that will ensure that WESSA Schools Programmes will continue to grow from strength to strength. Enjoy reading the case stories of schools, in this review, that have achieved so much over the last few years as part of the WESSA family.

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Through living the WESSA values, we will continue with our mission of implementing high impact environmental and conservation projects which promote public participation in caring for the Earth.

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WESSA Schools Programme | Impact Report | 2019/2020 5