SANParks green school initiative opens for 2016

Learners from Dawnpark, Reahile and Monde Primary School in Gauteng at the KGSI in Marakele National Park, SANParks.

Started in 2010, the Kudu Green School Initiative is a SANParks’ environmental education programme, targeting urban school-going children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Learners are encouraged to research and debate biodiversity conservation issues based on climate change-related topics.

According to SANParks, GM: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations, Reynold Thakhuli, “The programme is aimed at improving climate science literacy and heightening the level of awareness and interest in conservation related careers, whilst assisting learners to respond to local environmental challenges affecting their schools and communities.”

Thakhuli also said that the schools selected are all from Gauteng and “...they are urban-based schools, specifically those in previously disadvantaged communities, that have had minimal or no exposure to national parks, awareness of conservation issues and opportunities in the environmental field due to the fact that Gauteng has no national park.”

Learners from Gauteng enjoying an environmental game at the 6th annual KGSI.

“The future of our environment lies in the ability of our youth to understand their local and global environments and the issues that impact negatively on our world. The sustainability of our natural environment and ecosystems can not only be left to existing legislation and policies; we also need to invest in the knowledge and development of our future leaders who will take the responsibility of advancing such policies,”

The KGSI has supported participating schools to become environmental stewards for their communities. They have received training during the work camps on short skills to introduce the sustainable schools concept. Themes covered were garden design, permaculture, compost and trench–making, veld interpretation, school environmental performance on resource use, climate literacy as well as biodiversity careers.