Pictured above: Recipients of Eco-School awards in KZN with WESSA Schools & Youth team, and CEO.
Durban, South Africa – 29 March 2026: KwaZulu-Natal’s commitment to environmental education and youth-led action was celebrated at the 2025 Eco-Schools Awards Ceremony, held on 21 March 2026 (Human Rights Day) at the Willow Way Manor in Durban. The event brought together educators, learners, government representatives, and environmental partners in the province to recognise schools that are not only learning about sustainability but actively shaping it within their communities.
The Eco-Schools programme, implemented by WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), continues to empower young people to move from awareness to meaningful action, embedding environmental responsibility into schools across the province.
Recognising schools that turn learning into action
This year’s awards recognised schools across KwaZulu-Natal for their commitment to environmental learning, practical action, and community impact. From waste management and water conservation to biodiversity protection and climate awareness, participating schools demonstrated how education can drive real change.
The ceremony highlighted the strength of the Eco-Schools model – where learners are not passive recipients of information, but active participants in solving environmental challenges within their schools and communities.
A number of Eco-Schools were recognised for their long-term, consistent commitment, including the Emerald Award (20 years) awarded to Pitlochry Primary School and Shea O’Connor Combined School, and the Arum Lily Award (22 years) awarded to Epworth School and The Birches – marking over two decades of sustained environmental excellence.
A centenary year for WESSA and a future led by youth
As WESSA marks its 100th year, WESSA CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete, reflected on the enduring power of environmental education to shape a more sustainable future.
“For 100 years, WESSA has believed in the power of education to change lives and protect our planet. The Eco-Schools programme is one of the clearest examples of this in action – where knowledge is transformed into meaningful, community-driven change,” adds Cloete.
She added that the programme’s impact lies in its ability to move learners beyond awareness, “We are not just teaching learners about environmental challenges – we are equipping them to respond to those challenges with confidence, creativity, and purpose. These young people are not the leaders of tomorrow; they are leading change today.”
Rethinking sustainability for the next generation
Delivering the keynote address, Thobekile Gambu, Environmental Scientist and United Nations Global Compact Coordinator for uMgeni-uThukela Water South Africa, challenged attendees to rethink how sustainability is approached in education, particularly in the face of growing environmental pressures.
Pictured above: Keynote speaker, Thobekile Gambu
“We cannot afford to treat sustainability as a future concern. The decisions we take and actions we make today will define the kind of world young people inherit,” she said.
Emphasising the importance of agency and action, she shares that, “Young people must be equipped not only with knowledge, but with the ability to act. When learners understand their role in protecting natural systems – especially water – they become powerful drivers of change within their communities.”
She further highlighted the need for a shift in mindset: “Sustainability education must move beyond awareness. It must inspire responsibility, innovation, and action – because the challenges we face require more than understanding; they require solutions.”
Learner-led innovation and impact on display
A powerful highlight of the ceremony was the showcase presentations by learners, demonstrating the tangible impact of Eco-Schools projects on the ground.
A Grade 7 learner from Highbury Preparatory School shared how their Eco Club has driven initiatives such as recycling programmes, school gardening, and biodiversity awareness, while also extending their impact through community engagement and conservation fundraising efforts.
Meanwhile, Dingeka Technical High School presented their work focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), alongside recycling initiatives and environmental awareness campaigns. Their work reflects a strong commitment to addressing both environmental and social challenges within their community.
These showcases reinforced a key message: when learners are enabled, they become powerful agents of change.
Building a generation of environmental leaders
The KwaZulu-Natal Eco-Schools Awards once again demonstrated the programme’s role in developing environmentally conscious, action-oriented young leaders.
Through hands-on learning, collaboration, and community engagement, Eco-Schools continues to nurture a generation that understands not only the challenges facing the planet – but their role in solving them.
As WESSA celebrates its centenary year, the work of these schools stands as a powerful reminder that the future of environmental sustainability is already being shaped in classrooms across South Africa.
Top honours recognise excellence in environmental leadership
Among the many schools recognised, several stood out for their exceptional leadership and impact through the programme’s special awards, which celebrate excellence across key environmental themes.
- The WESSA Eco-Schools Biodiversity Stewardship Award was awarded to Amanzimtoti Primary School, recognising its long-standing commitment to protecting and restoring biodiversity through initiatives such as beach clean-ups, wetland adoption, and environmental awareness campaigns.
- The WESSA Eco-Schools Circular Economy Champion Award was presented to Hillgrove Primary School, which has demonstrated outstanding leadership in waste reduction and recycling, including collecting over 1 400 kg of recyclables and promoting a culture of resource efficiency.
- The WESSA Eco-Schools Water Wise Warriors Award went to Buhlebemfundo High School, whose learners developed an innovative water conservation app and represented South Africa on the global stage, while also leading water stewardship initiatives within their community.
- The WESSA Eco-Schools Ubuntu for Nature Award was awarded to Epworth School, in recognition of its strong community engagement, including clean-up campaigns, tree planting, food gardens, and environmental awareness initiatives that embody collective action for people and the planet.
In addition to the special awards, several schools were recognised for their long-term commitment to the Eco-Schools programme, achieving milestone “decade” awards that reflect sustained environmental action over many years.
Additional notable achievements:
- 15 years: Cowan House, Amanzimtoti Primary School, Kainon Primary School, and Tree Tops School received the International Flag Decade Award
- 17 years: Eden College and Virginia Preparatory School were awarded the Platinum 2 Decade Award
Eco-Schools Awards Progression
Participation award
- Hillcrest High School
Bronze award (Year 1)
- Inkanyezi Creche and Community Care Centre
- Dingeka High School
Silver award (Year 2):
- Atholl Heights Primary School
- Crawford International La Lucia
- Crawford International North Coast
- Umlazi ComTech High School
- E. Ndlovu Secondary School
- JL Dube Secondary School
- Marklands Secondary School
- Nkosinathi Secondary School
- Mzuvele Secondary School
Green Flag award (Year 3):
- Athlone Park Primary School
- Carter High School
- Injabulo Senior Primary School
Sun International Eco-Schools Project
Gold award (Year 4):
- Glenhaven Secondary School
- Palmview Secondary School
- Sterngrove Primary School
- Phoenix Secondary School
- Waterloo Secondary School
Gold award (Year 4):
- Longmarket Girls’ School
- Thembimfundo Special School
- Buhlebemfundo Secondary School
International Flag award (Year 5):
- Kloof High school
- Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School
Platinum 2 award (Year 7)
- Wembley College
- Hermannsburg School
- The Browns School
Silver Decade award (Year 12):
- Deutsche Schule Durban
- Winston Park Primary School
- Highbury Preparatory School
Green Flag Decade award (Year 13):
- Hilton Montessori
Gold Decade award (Year 14):
- Umbogintwini Primary School
- Stanger Training Centre
- Laddsworth Primary School
International Flag Decade award (Year 15):
- Cowan House
- Amanzimtoti Primary School
- Kainon Primary School
- Tree Tops School
Platinum 2 Decade award (Year 17):
- Eden College
- Virginia Preparatory School
- Hillgrove Primary School
Emerald award (Year 20):
- Pitlochry Primary school
- Shea O’Connor Combined School
Arum Lily award (Year 22):
- Epworth School
- The Birches
Partner and Funder Recognition
- Sun International Sibaya
- eThekwini Municipality – Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit