Welcome to the final edition of Quarterly Buzz for this year. In this issue, we share fresh stories and key updates from our projects on the ground. From major milestones to inspiring moments in the field, discover how Nature Connect continues to drive impact and shape a future where people and nature thrive together. |
|
|
|
|---|
|
| | Change lives through nature & use the SnapScan code to donate instantly. |
|
|
|
|---|
|
New Camera Traps for Simon’s Town: Celebrating Partnerships and the Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust |
|  | A new set of camera traps will be hugely beneficial to the way we monitor and care for the Critically Endangered African Penguins in Simon’s Town. This project, further expanded by the Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust’s R83,184 donation, is the result of years of partnership, learning, and shared commitment between Nature Connect, SANCCOB, SANParks, and the City of Cape Town. More than a decade ago, the Simon’s Town African Penguin colony faced a challenge. There was only one monitor on duty, and the growing number of visitors meant the penguins needed more protection. In 2012, the parties sat together to find a solution. Through a series of meetings, the organisations agreed to appoint a second penguin monitor, funded by SANCCOB and managed by Nature Connect, with operational support from SANParks and the City of Cape Town. |
| | | Junior River Warden Programme Launches in Cape Town |
|  | Cape Town’s rivers face ongoing threats from litter, pollution and canalisation. A lack of a sense of ownership results in many children from under-resourced communities growing up without opportunities to learn about the natural spaces around them. This gap means that vital lessons around responsibility and pride in local environments are often missed. When communities do not feel connected to their rivers, problems such as littering and neglect persist, resulting in a reduction in biodiversity and degradation in the health of public spaces. Many teachers in under-resourced schools are ready to inspire the necessary change, but they need support and resources to make environmental learning part of everyday school life. Without practical programmes, it is difficult for learners to understand their role in caring for rivers and natural spaces. |
| | |
|
|
|---|
|
Shaping the Future of School Sustainability: Online Hub Launch + Insights from Injini EdTech Week |
|  | Recently, members of our Sustainable Schools team attended the Injini South African EdTech Week 2025, joining passionate educators and EdTech professionals exploring the theme “Building EdTech Readiness in Under-Resourced Contexts.”
Conversations brought the reminder that while technology can help bridge educational divides in South Africa, its real impact depends on more than access. True readiness means strengthening the entire ecosystem through evidence, collaboration and capacity building to support meaningful and sustainable digital learning experiences.
As we prepare to launch version 2 of the Sustainable Schools Hub, we’re applying these very principles - using data, design and dialogue to enhance how teachers and schools interact with the Sustainable Schools Programme. |
|  | The new platform has been shaped by the voices of educators across the country, refined through feedback to make it more intuitive and engaging, with new features like gamified challenges. From rural to urban schools, non-fee-paying to fee-paying, we’ve learned that readiness looks different everywhere and that our role is to meet schools where they are. We want to keep teachers motivated to continue the important work that they do, by bringing sustainability into their classrooms and wider communities. |
| | | EdTech Week offered valuable insights into this process. From thought-provoking discussions on “Government as a System Enabler in the EdTech Value Chain” to hearing from a teacher from Limpopo, a behavioural designer, and MEL and design-thinking specialists, who left us inspired by how others are shaping inclusive and effective digital learning ecosystems across South Africa. |
| Future Conservation Leaders in Action: Highlights from the CPUT 2nd Year Conservation Camp |
|  | For five days in September 2025, Bokbaai Environmental Education Centre became a living classroom for 2nd Year Nature Conservation students from CPUT. This annual camp, hosted by Nature Connect in partnership with CapeNature, Cape Leopard Trust, and The City of Cape Town, is an immersive experience that equips students with practical skills and a deeper understanding of biodiversity stewardship.
Cape Town’s ecosystems face mounting pressures, and the next generation of conservationists must be ready to respond. The camp bridges theory and practice, giving students hands-on exposure to real-world conservation challenges and solutions. |
| What Happened at Bokbaai? |
| | | Nature Connect Celebrates River Warden NQF4 Graduation: Building Green Skills for Cape Town’s Future |
|  | Nature Connect proudly hosted the River Warden Nature Conservation (NQF4) Graduation Ceremony at Kelvin Grove, marking a significant milestone in empowering youth through accredited Greenskills training. Delivered by our expert team, this programme equips graduates with technical competencies in biodiversity monitoring, water quality testing, and environmental reporting, alongside leadership and problem-solving skills essential for conservation careers.
This Skills Development Programme forms part of Nature Connect’s commitment to creating pathways from Junior River Wardens to skilled professionals. This initiative nurtures environmental stewardship and also contributes to job creation and Cape Town’s green economy goals.
Through this programme, we are building the next generation of conservation champions. Our graduates leave with practical skills and confidence to make a tangible impact.
Nature Connect will continue to expand Greenskills initiatives, ensuring more young people access accredited training and career opportunities in the environmental sector.
| Connecting and Learning at EEASA 2025: Nature Connect’s Voice in Advancing ESD |
|  | This September, Cape Town played host to the 43rd Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) conference, a gathering that united education practitioners, NGOs, public sector representatives, academics, and sector leaders from across the SADC region. Together, they explored ideas and strengthened the community of practice around Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
For Nature Connect, it was about contributing meaningfully to the collective vision. As members of the local organising committee, we supported the logistics and human capacity that helped make the conference possible. But our involvement went further, through moments that truly captured the spirit of collaboration and creativity:
- Edu-tainment through Puppeteering Workshop
Partnering with fellow organisations, we introduced a playful yet powerful method of sparking curiosity and building environmental awareness for children of an early age. The puppets didn’t just captivate children—they had seasoned delegates laughing, learning, and marveling at the joy of storytelling as a tool for change.
- Sharing Lessons and Insights
Our team presented on “The Power of Partnerships”, lessons drawing from the incredible work of our Sustainable Schools programme and the Sustainable Schools Hub. We also shared valuable lessons from the Conservation Leadership Programme, illustrating how mainstreaming ESD through an ecosystem approach can translate into practical strategies for schools and communities.
- Celebrating Youth Impact
Taking part in the Big Biodiversity Challenge Awards Ceremony was a highlight, as we celebrated the creativity and commitment of young people contributing to biodiversity in the Western Cape.
One of the most moving moments came during the opening session, when Jumah Alih Abubakr, a graduate of our Conservation Leadership Programme and part-time educator, took the stage as a VIP speaker. Jumah shared an inspiring story of resilience, mentorship, and the transformative power of education in shaping environmental leaders. His words resonated deeply, reminding delegates of the human stories at the heart of sustainability.
The conference theme, “Celebrating and reflecting the success in Education for Sustainable Development: Building on success and shaping the future of ESD”, echoed throughout every session. For Nature Connect, it was both a celebration and a reaffirmation: a chance to highlight our work, learn from others, and stand proudly as one of the hosts of this landmark gathering. Above all, it was an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to empowering communities to take positive action for the environment. |
|
|
|
|---|
Celebrating National Recognition for Innovation and Community Impact |  | The Sustainable Schools Programme proudly received two major national awards recently;
Gold in the Eco-Community category of the Eco-Logic Awards for mobilising teachers, learners, partners, and communities to drive sustainability in schools. The Innovation Award at the SANParks Kudu Awards for the Sustainable Schools Hub - an online platform that supports teachers, schools, and partners to connect, learn, and take meaningful sustainability action. These achievements reflect Nature Connect’s commitment to empowering environmentally-conscious citizens to create lasting change for people and nature.
| | |
|
| Support Nature Connect with Woolworths MyDifference. |  | Woolworths is merging its MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet and WRewards programmes into a single, powerful new platform: MyDifference. This means you can now support Nature Connect every time you shop at Woolies—simply by selecting us as your Cause in the Woolworths app. The new system is digital-first, making it easier than ever to give back, access discounts, and manage your rewards—all in one place Let’s make a difference together—sign up for MyDifference and choose Nature Connect as your Cause today! | | |
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
