TO broaden the knowledge base and empower communities on climate change activities Durban and the City of Bremen in Germany launched a three-year Oceans Champions Empowerment Programme at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.
The aim of the programme is to promote skills that will contribute to the protection of the sea, the reduction of pollution and also have an effect on climate protection.
eThekwini Mayor, Zandile Gumede, said the programme is aimed at 50 youth between the ages of 14 to 25 who have a good knowledge on the role of oceans in the global ecosystem and marine pollution.
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“About 90 per cent of the project funding will be from the German Service Agency who has already injected R7.5 million to kick-start this learning exchange. We will be soon be sending out a call for applications from youth who have finished school and want to participate in the programme,” she said.
Bremen and Durban have an existing sister city relationship and officially twinned in 2011. They have hosted a number of climate change pilot projects since then.
Participants will take part in debates on marine pollution, reforestation of mangroves and the cleaning of beaches as topics of discussion.
They will also be expected to come up with innovative methods on coastal and marine conservation.
During the launch, Mayor Gumede called on the private sector to partner with the Municipality in supporting this initiative as the selected youth will need varying levels of support from the different stakeholders in executing their pilot projects as well as with the roundtable discussions.
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