Pictured above: [top] Learners at Diepsloot West Secondary School receiving their project participation certificates; [bottom left] Learner Biogas Experiment at Diepsloot Secondary; [bottom right] Educators at the teacher workshop hosted by Diepsloot Combined School on 23 October 2025.

From 20 October to 5 November 2025, WESSA and the eWASA Schools Waste Management and Education Project wrapped up the year with a series of inspiring Biogas Education Sessions and Teacher Development Workshops across Gauteng.

Learners from ten participating Eco-Schools explored the theme “Waste to Energy”, discovering first-hand how organic waste can be transformed into a renewable resource. Through interactive experiments, they observed how gases released from decomposing food waste can be captured, stored, and used for cooking, a practical example of how waste can fuel sustainable solutions.

Each school’s Eco-Committee designed its own biogas experiment to monitor over the coming month, bringing science and sustainability to life in the classroom. The sessions sparked curiosity, encouraged critical thinking, and helped learners reimagine waste as a valuable resource rather than a problem.

To ensure that the project’s impact continues well beyond the classroom, WESSA hosted two teacher workshops on 22 and 23 October. Twelve dedicated educators took part in sessions focused on project sustainability, guided by the Eco-Schools sustainability planning framework. Together, they explored strategies to strengthen environmental projects over the next five years, deepening their understanding of the three pillars of sustainability, the WESSA Seven Steps, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Teachers also developed action plans for resource mobilisation and long-term environmental education, ensuring that meaningful change continues to grow in their schools and communities.

This final round of activities marks an important milestone in the partnership between eWASA and WESSA, demonstrating the power of education to turn ideas into action and build a generation ready to shape a more sustainable future.

Pictured above: [Top left] Learners designing a biogas experiment at Winnie Mandela Secondary School; [top right] Educators at the teacher workshop hosted by Winnie Mandela Secondary School on 22 October 2025; [bottom right] Biogas experiment created by learners at Tembisa West Secondary School; [bottom left] Biogas education session at Tembisa West Secondary School

October brought an incredible wave of inspiration from across the WESSA family as staff, interns, and supporters shared their personal reasons to care for the Earth. From garden discoveries to group conservation efforts, these moments capture the heart of the #WESSA100 campaign, celebrating people who care for the earth through everyday actions and shared experiences in nature.

A master of disguise in the garden

Adrienne West, WESSA’s Head of Philanthropy & Resource Mobilisation, kicked off the month by spotting a Cape Dwarf Chameleon in her garden, a tiny but powerful reminder of nature’s hidden beauty.

“It’s incredible how much beauty hides in plain sight when we pause and look closely,” she shared. “Moments like these remind me why caring for our Earth matters, every creature, big or small, plays its part in the web of life.”

Revitalising nature, one pond at a time

At WESSA’s Twinstreams Education Centre, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) students rolled up their sleeves to restore the foggy pond, creating a thriving new habitat for frogging activity.

“Every action, big or small, helps restore balance in our ecosystems,” they said. “This is our reason to care for the Earth.”

Finding beauty in the smallest details

For Jaco van der Merwe, WESSA’s uMngeni Valley Reserve Manager, the return of a Scarlet Millipede after the rains sparked reflection on the intricate balance of life in nature. “The sun, the rain, the wind, every season has its role to play. Watching a Scarlet Millipede soak up the first rays after the rain reminds me how every small creature contributes to the balance of our ecosystems.”

A child’s wonder at first sight

WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete shared her personal moment of awe, watching her young nephew see a rhino for the first time.

“#WhyICareForTheEarth: to give my niece and nephew incredible experiences in nature,” she said. “He just wanted the rhinos to come say hello to him. That sense of wonder is what we need to protect.”

Connection by firelight

At Twinstreams, staff and interns gathered around a bonfire, sharing stories and connecting under the stars.

“There’s something special about a chilly evening at Twinstreams, gathered around a bonfire with people who share a deep love for the natural world,” reflected Jaco van der Merwe. “What better way to celebrate that than under the stars, surrounded by the very environment we work to protect?”

Call to action: Share your reason to care

As we head toward WESSA’s 100-year milestone in 2026, we’re calling you to join the movement.

Capture your favourite nature moment, it could be a sunrise, a walk with family, a garden discovery, or an exciting encounter in nature.

• Tell us why it matters to you.
• Tag @wessa_sa on Instagram and use #WESSA100 and #PeopleCaringForTheEarth in your post.
• Your post/image could be featured next in our monthly highlights!

Together, let’s celebrate 100 (and more) reasons why people care for the Earth.

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