WESSA Annual Review 2022

aligned with the Sails of Change Sport in Nature partnership that was launched in October 2022.

ADVOCACY AND VOICE

Informed, creative, and active minds to advocate with impact, act with intent, and achieve a self-defined future are drivers of our youth interventions. As implementing organisation for the International Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) Young Reporters for the Environment Programme, WESSA recognises and capitalises on the amplification of capable voices speaking out for people and the planet. Intergenerational voluntary campaigners galvanise action to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our world.

TRAINING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Climate change, Biodiversity loss, and Pollution are the priority thematic areas for WESSA’s training work and almost 300 participants, ranging from post-matriculants to community members, university students, and degree holders, have undergone accredited or non accredited [short courses] training this past year. WESSA-certified courses in Energy footprint calculation, Energy Conservation, Climate change adaptation and mitigation, and Sustainable Agriculture have been developed to enhance the scope and relevance of our work in these three priority thematic areas. Our blended approach enables a dynamic training team to consider a learner or group’s unique context and influence the strongest approach to align with their situation and specific needs. In-person, virtual, and hybrid delivery of training ensures we remain relevant to market requirements and the success of this can be appreciated through the diverse

The climate crises, loss of biodiversity and habitats, and pollution are areas of strategic importance for WESSA, and enabling youth to meaningfully engage is critical to our vision of “people caring for the earth”.

NETWORKS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Unrivalled power exists in networks, associations, and an ability to align and collaborate with like minded champions. This is deeply embedded in WESSA’s history as a founding member of the IUCN, a driver behind the Kruger National Park, and a partner to government and corporates alike. WESSA’s youth work looks to galvanise this spirit into South Africa’s youth champions and future legends to enable our future conservation legacies. The WESSA Youth Alumni Network’s mission is to become one of Africa’s largest youth centered environmental movements advocating and acting for environmental and social justice. This ambitious network will be formally launched in January 2023. WESSA’s youth work aligns with the IUCN #NatureForAll network and we are working closely with the IUCN to develop projects

portfolio of clients over this past period.

SNAPSHOT OF TRAINING SERVICES 2020 - 2021 - 2022

• Balwin Foundation funded 20 participants in our Energy footprints calculation training. • DFFE funded 6 of their employees that benefitted from our EIA training. • South 32 funded 20 participants in Sustainable Agriculture training. • The DFFE funded training in Tourism guiding, EIA, and Environmental Management of 10 participants in the Groen Sebenza 1 project. • The DFFE funded 171 participants of the Groen Sebenza (2) project that benefitted from a variety of skills programs ranging from Environmental Education, Environmental Management, Conservation,

and Entrepreneurial skills. DFFE is the funding national department Skills. • 29 self-funded, independent participants trained in our Assessors course.

• TUT Nelspruit funded the EIA training program for 57 of their 2nd-year Tourism students. • Other projects that WESSA Training undertook were on research into climate change which was funded by the GIZ.

build a legacy

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