Education a key area for WESSA’s work
The Durban Branch of WESSA is taking the lead in education,
and has decided to use its funds to focus in particular on developing young
environmental activists. At its AGM the
Branch decided to extend its recent youth leadership course. After the meeting, Crispin Hemson, branch
chairperson, set up a short internship programme for five youth leaders. Over a three week period they are visiting
areas of environmental importance, and each intern will develop a project to
put to work what they have learnt.
Interns working on
alien clearing next to Pigeon Valley in Glenwood: Mfanafuthi Shinga, Nobuhle
Kakhe, Kizito Takawira, Mfanelo Ntombela and Sbo Mkhize.
‘In this project we are focusing on the links between the
physical environment and the social issues at stake. Our approach is to focus strongly on the
people we are working with, and to ensure that the relationships that develop
around environmental work are formed on the basis of ubuntu and nonviolence,’
said Crispin Hemson, who is also the Director of the International Centre of
Nonviolence. ‘This may sound idealistic, but in reality many projects fail
because of in-fighting and competition, and there are specific things we can do
to form a different basis for work. And
linking technology with people is an important element requiring the full
involvement of local people.’
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xX593sIECFM/UAV6teFCmDI/AAAAAAAAAJo/8V6bH_-hg-w/s320/Ntuzuma+project+a.jpg)
Sindiswa Zulu (left)
and Paulos Gwala (right) show interns the challenges they face in developing an
area in Ntuzuma.
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