IT IS said often that if you don’t like something, be the change you want to see in the world. A powerful statement on its own but it’s impressive with implementation, such are the actions of 13-year-old Chase Willemse, who in his leisure time is encouraging his peers to join his beach clean-up movement.
The Brighton Beach Senior Primary School learner’s environmental consciousness is motivated by his family, especially his mother, Kirsten, who is extremely passionate about the environment and runs an eco club for grade 2s at Gordon Road Girls’ School where she teaches.
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“I wanted to do this because I wanted a cleaner environment for sea life. I surf and I often see plastic floating about in the water and this is killing our sea creatures,” explained Chase who has led two beach clean-ups.
He also has a Whatsapp group where he continually organises and encourages his friends to be proactive. His initial group clean-up was on Saturday, 8 June and the next one was on the following Saturday.
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“Chase organised a beach clean-up with a few of his friends for two Saturdays. We had previously done it as a family after the floods this year. After the first Saturday a group from Durban Til I Pass On (DTIPO) WeLive happened to visit his school and he told them that he got a group of friends together to clean up from Anstey’s to Brighton Beach. They agreed to meet up for the second Saturday clean-up,” said Kirsten.
With support from his family and friends, Chase said he planned to continue to do his bit to save the environment and raise awareness.
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