This December, WESSA is opening the door to discovery with a series of exciting, hands-on holiday programmes across our Education Centres in KwaZulu-Natal. Designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and deepen children’s connection with nature, each programme offers a unique learning adventure led by experienced environmental educators.

From the coastline to the forest and the riverbanks, these holiday experiences bring science, exploration, conservation, and creativity together in a fun and meaningful way.

Twinstreams Education Centre: Nature-Themed Daily Adventures

• Dates: 10–12 December & 17–18 December 2025
• Location: WESSA Twinstreams Environmental Education Centre, Mtunzini, Zululand
• Ages: 6–10 years
• Cost: Full-day programme, R230 per child (lunch included)

Twinstreams offers a vibrant nature-based holiday experience with engaging daily themes that bring environmental issues to life through play, learning, and imagination.

Daily Themes:

• Wildlife Warriors: Anti-Poaching
• Waste Warriors: Reducing, Reusing & Recycling
• Water Heroes: Water Conservation
• Tree-mendous: Deforestation & Reforestation

Perfect for younger learners, this programme builds confidence, teamwork, and ecological understanding in a fun, supportive outdoor environment.

Bookings: kevin.lakani@wessa.co.za | 071 681 0441

Treasure Beach Education Centre: Marine Science & Coastal Environments

• Dates: 11–13 December & 17–19 December 2025
• Address: 835 Marine Drive, Brighton Beach, Durban
• Cost: Half-day programme, R630 per child or R530 per child when booking two or more children (packed lunch included)

Set along the scenic Durban coastline, the Treasure Beach holiday programme immerses children in the wonders of marine science and coastal ecosystems.

Learners gain skills in:

• Understanding coastal environments and ecosystems
• Interpretive hiking
• Marine biodiversity threats and solutions
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Exploring rocky shores
• Group work and social skill development
• Instruction and guided learning

This half-day programme combines education with adventure, offering a powerful introduction to ocean literacy and environmental stewardship.

Bookings: sindisiwe.nzama@wessa.co.za

uMngeni Valley: ‘Dive into Learning’, Water-Inspired STEAM Adventures

• Dates: 11–13 December 2025
• Time: 08:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Ages: 8–14 years
• Venue: WESSA uMngeni Nature Reserve, Howick, Durban
• Cost: R750 per child or R650 per child when booking for two or more children (meals included)

“Dive into Learning” is a dynamic, water-themed STEAM programme designed for children who love science, creativity, and hands-on exploration.

Activities include:

• STEAM Splash challenges
• Testing salinity
• Creative wave-themed art
• Building water filters
• Exploring the water cycle
• Painting, crafting, and design
• Eco-Explorers team challenges, relays, experiments, and projects

This holiday experience blends science and creativity, helping young minds understand the importance of water while having unforgettable fun.

Bookings: buhle.mthembu@wessa.co.za

uMngeni Valley: ‘Whispers in the Wild’, Nature Detective Holiday Programme

• Dates: 17–19 December 2025
• Time: 08:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Ages: 8–14 years
• Venue: WESSA uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve, Howick, Durban
• Cost: R750 per child or R650 per child when booking for two or more children (meals included)

“Whispers in the Wild” is an immersive tracks-and-science holiday programme for young nature detectives ready to explore the mystery and magic of the natural world.

Eco-Explorers will:

• Read animal tracks and signs
• Investigate feeding sites, nests, feathers, and spores
• Learn through guided fieldwork, observation, and exploration
• Build a deeper bond with nature through purposeful outdoor learning

This programme is ideal for curious, adventurous learners who love wildlife, stories of the bush, and scientific discovery.

Enquiries: Kristi Garland, contact 082 926 2053

Book your child’s holiday adventure

Spaces are limited and programmes fill up quickly. Each experience is designed to build environmental awareness, practical skills, creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love for nature.

Give your child the gift of learning, exploration, and adventure this holiday season, book today!

Pictured above: Elephant Day Eco Art Murals at The Bridge School Morningside

This year marked an incredible journey for ADvTECH schools as they embraced the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme with energy, creativity, and a genuine passion for positive change. From recycling initiatives and food gardens to biodiversity projects, nature excursions, and environmental day celebrations, ADvTECH schools truly stepped up as environmental champions in 2025.

Pictured above: (top: left to right) E-waste project at Crawford International La Lucia; Beach clean-up uShaka Crawford International North Coast.

(bottom: left to right) Crawford North Coast & Pecanwood College Staff join forces in Pilanesberg for a weekend of eco-action; The recycling team at Crawford International.

Learners taking action, one project at a time

Learners of all ages played an active role throughout the year. They got their hands dirty by sorting waste, planting trees, testing water quality, and leading environmental awareness campaigns during school assemblies.

Eco-Committees formed at each school, worked tirelessly to keep projects moving, while teachers guided and inspired learners to think critically about the world around them. Classrooms were transformed through awareness art and posters, outdoor learning spaces were created with pride, and schools developed a stronger culture of conscious consumerism.

Innovation fueled by passion and teamwork

Several ADvTECH schools took their Eco-Schools efforts to the next level with creative and community-driven initiatives. These included:

• E-Waste recycling drives
• Upcycled art exhibitions
• “Trashion” fashion shows
• Composting systems
• Sustainability-themed school events that brought entire communities together

What truly stood out was the growing sense of teamwork, leadership, and excitement as learners realised that their individual and collective actions make a meaningful difference.

Pictured above: (Left) Learners planting trees at Maragon Olympus for Arbor Week; (right) Pinnacle College Kyalami started an earthworm farm for International Compost Week.

Pictured above: (top) Gaborone International School celebrating World Wildlife Day; (bottom left) World Bee Day at Trinityhouse Glenvista and Pinnacle College Raslouw (bottom right).

Celebrating a successful year and looking ahead

Together, ADvTECH schools have shown what it means to care for our planet. Their commitment, creativity, and hard work saw them thrive in the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme throughout 2025.

Here’s to even greener steps and bold new ideas as they continue their sustainability journey in 2026!

Pictured above: (left to right) Corne de Jongh (Trainee), Chriszelda Paulse (Meeting and Events Manager), Robyn Hendrickse (Assistant Front Office Manager) Florencia Louw (Rooms Division Manager), Kelly Alcock (WESSA, Head of Education & Sustainability), Conrad Jonck (Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers, General Manager), Tshidi Notisi (Chief Engineer), Tansneem Jacobs (Senior Sous Chef), Kashief Williams (Head Chef)

The Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers has earned its first Green Key certification, officially joining an international network of more than 8 000 hotels across 90+ countries recognised for environmental responsibility, community upliftment, and sustainable tourism.

“Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers has demonstrated that sustainability and service excellence can go hand in hand,” says Cindy-Lee Cloete, CEO of WESSA. “Their certification reflects an integrated approach, one that connects operational efficiency with social upliftment and environmental care.”

Led by General Manager Conrad Jonck and Environmental Manager Retshidisitswe Notisi, the certification recognises the hotel’s continuous investment in sustainable operations, from water and energy management to staff engagement and impactful community partnerships.

“This certification reflects our team’s deep commitment to creating a more sustainable future for people and the planet,” says Conrad Jonck. “From innovative waste management and water monitoring systems to partnerships that uplift local communities, sustainability has become part of our hotel’s DNA.”

A holistic approach to sustainability

Located in a water-sensitive region, Crystal Towers continues to build on key lessons from Cape Town’s “Day Zero” drought. Its ongoing water-saving interventions and real-time monitoring through the MESH platform allow the team to track consumption, identify anomalies, and manage usage responsibly without compromising guest comfort.

Energy efficiency remains a strategic focus area. By integrating MESH with the hotel’s Building Management System (BMS), the engineering team can analyse energy trends, address irregularities quickly, and drive long-term reductions. Preventative maintenance, including weekly grease filter cleaning and bi-monthly ventilation servicing, supports operational efficiency and improves air quality.

Waste reduction and eco-innovation

The hotel has achieved an impressive 80% reduction in waste to landfill, supported by a strong recycling system and a circular approach that transforms 95% of kitchen food waste into animal feed. Innovations like turning potato peels into snacks for guests show how sustainability can spark creativity in hospitality.

A notable initiative is the adoption of Superthene, a recyclable and photodegradable alternative to cling wrap. This shift significantly reduces single-use plastics, reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to environmentally conscious operations.

Enabling people and communities

For Crystal Towers, sustainability extends well beyond environmental practices. Partnerships with organisations such as Khayelitsha Cookies and The Amy Foundation fuel local employment, education, and empowerment.

The hotel has also embedded sustainability into its organisational culture. Regular townhalls and the DLZ learning platform enable staff to co-create solutions, deepening ownership and accountability across all teams.

“Through continuous training, community partnerships, and innovation, the team at Crystal Towers shows that every choice in hospitality can make a difference,” says Kelly Alcock, WESSA Head of Education and Sustainability. “Their leadership inspires others across the sector to follow suit.”

• Read more about Green Key here https://www.wessa.org.za/green-key/.
• Contact Tevya Visser, Senior Sustainable Programme Manager on greenkey@wessa.co.za to get your establishment certified.

WESSA is proud to welcome Bongani Chisale to the team as our new Wildlife Protection Unit Ranger, based at uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve.

Bongani’s journey with WESSA began in 2016 as a student volunteer, and now, nearly a decade later, he joins the organisation as a skilled conservationist with extensive experience in fieldwork, community engagement, and biodiversity protection.

Holding an Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation, Bongani has served in guiding roles at uMhlanga Lagoon and Hawaan Forest, managed invasive species clearing in Cape Town, and led marine education initiatives at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR). His qualifications include certifications in First Aid, Snake Handling, Veld Fire Management, and Invasive Plant Control.

“Nature is my medication to any illness,” says Bongani. “I’ve always believed in the healing power of the wild and in its ability to re-energise and inspire.”

His first-year goal is to help restore and protect the uMngeni Valley ecosystem while educating communities about the critical role of conservation.

“It’s not just about the work on the ground, it’s about helping people understand what we’re protecting, and why. Education is key to lasting impact.”

Bongani also brings valuable experience from his time patrolling coastal zones with Ezemvelo rangers, monitoring invasive threats, and mentoring youth as part of community-based anti-poaching initiatives.

For aspiring green professionals, Bongani offers simple but powerful advice:

“Get your boots dirty every day, volunteer, log every patrol, every snare, every talk. Data becomes your CV. Stay curious, stay humble, and remember: the rhino you save today might inspire the child who saves the planet tomorrow.”

We’re honoured to have Bongani on board and excited to see the impact he’ll make in protecting South Africa’s biodiversity and connecting people with nature.

Pictured above (left to right WESSA staff) Mike Denison, Cindy-Lee Clote, Kelly Alcock, Lindokuhle Mkhize, Sabelo Sithole

WESSA proudly participated in the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Lekgotla, hosted in East London from 24–26 November 2025. The event brought together government, civil society, and technical experts to advance South Africa’s coastal resilience agenda.

Representing WESSA, Kelly Alcock, Head of Education & Sustainability, presented under the theme “Working with Nature: Blue & Green Pathways to Resilience”. She highlighted how Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) can deliver far-reaching economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Kelly also emphasised the role of WESSA’s programmes, from Ecosystem Stewardship and the Circular Economy (Green Hustle) to Coastal Ecosystem Protection and Green Coast, in supporting municipalities to implement sustainable, community-focused coastal projects.

In a session titled “Coastal Concepts to Fundable Projects”, Mike Denison, Coastal Programme Senior Manager, explored how civil society organisations can help translate coastal concepts into fundable and implementable resilience projects.

His presentation focused on partnership models between municipalities, NGOs, and CSOs, and how these collaborations can unlock funding and technical expertise for long-term coastal adaptation.

WESSA extends its gratitude to DFFE, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, SALGA, the World Bank, PROBLUE and GIZ for hosting a meaningful dialogue and for the opportunity to showcase our work.

 

Pictured above: Shekinah Childcare Facility Principal, WESSA membership and staff (in the red Green Rising t-shirts), and community members

On Saturday, 22 November, the WESSA Durban office, WESSA Membership, and dedicated community members came together at Shekinah Childcare Facility to celebrate World Children’s Day in a meaningful and hands-on way. The church grounds in Chesterville quickly became a hive of activity as volunteers prepared to make a tangible impact.

The day began with a cleanup, where volunteers worked to refresh and restore the surrounding area. The transformation created a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming environment for the children to play, learn, and thrive.

Pictured above: (top) Food Garden with 600 seedlings planted, (bottom) Waste collection and garden

Growing a sustainable future at Shekinah Childcare Facility

At the same time, another group focused on establishing a food garden, an initiative aimed at promoting long-term nourishment, sustainability, and environmental awareness among the children. A total of 600 seedlings were donated and planted, instantly bringing life and colour to the garden beds.

Throughout the day, the atmosphere remained warm and uplifting. The principal of the facility, along with a church representative, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the commitment and hard work poured into the event. Their words emphasised the power of collective action and the enduring difference it can make.

What began as a celebration became a joyful demonstration of community spirit, collaboration, and the shared belief that every child deserves a nurturing environment in which to grow and flourish.