Pictured above: Learners from Bulumko High School (top left), Intsebenziswano Secondary School (top right), Langa High school (bottom right) and Ikamvalethu Secondary school (bottom left)

In celebration of International E-Waste Day 2025 that took place on 14 October 2025, eco-club learners from ten schools across the Western Cape, participating in the eWASA–WESSA Waste Management and Education Project, explored creative solutions to one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges of our time, electronic waste.

The week-long learning experience kicked off with an exciting excursion to 1 More Time, a company that transforms single-use vapes into sleek, functional tech and lifestyle products. The visit gave learners a first-hand look into how waste can be reimagined through innovation and design thinking.

Learners were taken behind the scenes to explore various departments, from production and mechanical engineering to e-commerce and social media. Staff members shared insights into their roles and answered questions about career pathways in sustainability, technology, and circular design, offering invaluable guidance to these future changemakers.

“Seeing how something as simple as a discarded vape can be transformed into a stylish, usable product opened our eyes to the potential of e-waste,” shared one of the participating learners.

Following the tour, WESSA hosted an engaging Design Think-Tank Challenge, where learners deconstructed e-waste into its various components before brainstorming and designing innovative new products. Participants disassembled old irons and microwaves, exploring how each component could be reused, repurposed, or reimagined into new products. Working in teams, they brainstormed and sketched innovative ideas, combining science, creativity, and environmental stewardship. This activity encouraged them to apply what they had learned, combining creativity, problem-solving, and environmental responsibility.

The challenge not only deepened their understanding of waste management and sustainability but also inspired them to think critically about the role they can play in building a more circular economy.

This initiative made possible through the eWASA–WESSA partnership, continues to empower young people to see waste differently, as a valuable resource and an opportunity for innovation.

On 16 October 2025, the WESSA team hosted the final Eco-Schools teachers’ workshop under the Wispeco Aluminium Project, centred on two pressing themes 1) Water Conservation, and 2) Climate Change.

The workshop brought together 13 dedicated educators for a day of meaningful learning, reflection, and collaboration. The session aimed to deepen teachers’ understanding of sustainable resource use and environmental responsibility, both in their classrooms and within their wider school communities.

Through a mix of interactive discussions and practical activities, participants explored the real-world trade-offs involved in managing limited resources. These exercises encouraged critical thinking about how informed, balanced decision-making can drive sustainability in everyday contexts.

Hands-on learning activities allowed teachers to apply principles of resource allocation and water stewardship, demonstrating how these concepts can be integrated into school projects and lesson plans.

“Workshops like these remind us that sustainability starts with awareness, and teachers play a vital role in shaping that awareness among young people,” shared a WESSA facilitator.

By the end of the session, educators left inspired and equipped to lead climate-conscious initiatives within their schools, serving as catalysts for change in their communities.

This final workshop marked a meaningful close to the Wispeco Aluminium Project’s training series, reinforcing WESSA’s commitment to building environmental literacy and empowering teachers as changemakers for a more sustainable future.

In celebration of Arbor Week 2025, Firgrove Primary School and Kwa-Faku Primary School in the Western Cape proudly participated in the One Million Trees Project — a national greening initiative led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

The project set an ambitious goal: to plant one million trees in a single day on 24 September 2025, as part of the broader National Greening Programme, which aims to plant ten million trees over the next five years. Beyond increasing green cover, the initiative is designed to enhance urban spaces, mitigate the effects of climate change, improve food security through fruit and indigenous trees, and inspire community participation in environmental care.

At both schools, groups of enthusiastic learners worked side by side to plant a variety of trees on their grounds. Their efforts contribute directly to the national target while also nurturing a sense of responsibility and awareness about the role trees play in creating a healthier, more resilient environment.

Through this initiative, learners not only planted trees but also planted the seeds of collective responsibility — a reminder that caring for our planet begins with small actions that grow into lasting impact.