According to Johan le Roux from Izwi Lethu, the main objective of this project is to increase awareness of environmental conservation and waste recycling.
“This environmental education project aims to show the importance of our nature to children, with a specific focus on the protection of wildlife, forests and natural resources.
“Most of the threats facing our nature arise from inadequate knowledge and understanding among residents about the importance of it, its conservation and the consequences of its destruction,” says Le Roux.
He adds that education on these issues to children is critical for the survival of our nature.
“In the longer term, creating awareness about forest conservation among children will pay off when they become decision-makers, law makers, forest managers and users,” he explains.
The organisation targets dozens of schools on the East Rand.
“We want to educate both primary and high school children about the need to save wildlife, forests and natural resources, across the East Rand.”
Under the theme ‘hear our voices’, Le Roux spent the week from September 8 to 12 at Lakeside Primary, Reiger Park, where he educated the children about the importance of conserving the environment and wildlife.
During the event at the primary school, he spoke on environmental protection, water pollution, air pollution, animal cruelty and other environment-related issues.
He encouraged the children to live an eco-friendly lifestyle and protect animals.
Le Roux will spend a week in each and every school in Reiger Park teaching children about the environment.
A number of activities will also be held in the area in future to implement environmental protection. These will include tree-planting, clean-up campaigns, nature walks, workshops and field visits.
Awareness will also be created about alternative economic activities that can reduce pressure on natural resources and raise the quality of life through wise-use of available local resources.
The organisation also aims to undertake community development activities in Reiger Park.
To achieve the objective, Izwi lethu will initiate a formation of children environment club in the different schools, as well as various small-scale school based and community based activities, such as paper recycling, and using waste material to make puppets.
Le Roux is armed with a PhD in Integrative Wildlife Conservation.
He has been involved with nature conservation for the past 25 years, and has for the past four years providing Anti-Poaching and Investigations Training for farms, parks and other organisations.
– @FanieBoksburg
