by Afika Ndlela 17 March 2022

The Environmental Monitoring Group in partnership with the Western Cape Water Caucus held a World Environmental Day celebration and competiton on the 5th of June 2021 with the school environmental clubs in Mfuleni. For the competition, Geography students from Manzomthombo High, Bardale High, and Fairdale High schools had to record their lived experiences relating to water in their households, schools and/or the community at large. The themes were:

High water bills and water cut-offs
Water Management Devices
Water pollution and Air pollution
Solid Waste pollution and sanitation

The learners developed their content into either stories, presentations, performances, or posters which would contribute to a collective case study reflecting on life alongside the Kuils River.

The competition program was designed to inspire students to link classroom learning to their lived experience and build a deeper understanding of their community and its relationship to the natural environment in which it is situated.

We approached numerous organisations we believed to share the same principles around lifelong learning and are committed to supporting the educational needs of disadvantaged youth in marginalised communities, to donate and contribute to the event.

Food and Trees for Africa responded and offered to donate a total of 120 fruit and shade trees to all three schools. The trees were planted in 2022 by the organisation, learners and teachers.