Pictured above: (left) Thokozani Maphalala and (right) Khwezi Dlomo

WESSA is pleased to welcome Thokozani Maphalala and Khwezi Dlomo, who have joined the Coastal Programme as interns based at the Durban office.

Their arrival brings fresh energy, practical skills and a shared commitment to environmental learning, responsible tourism and coastal conservation.

Why they joined WESSA

For Thokozani, who holds a Diploma in Tourism Management, joining WESSA is an opportunity to connect his passion for tourism with environmental protection. He sees tourism as “more than just travel”, but as a way for people to connect meaningfully with places, communities and nature.

WESSA’s mission of “People Caring for the Earth” strongly resonates with him, especially through programmes such as Blue Flag and Green Coast, which show how conservation and tourism can work together.

“I bring a visitor-focused perspective from my tourism background,” says Thokozani. “I understand guest experience and how sustainability influences travel choices.”

He hopes to contribute ideas that improve visitor engagement at WESSA tourism sites, including stronger sustainability messaging, better signage and simple feedback systems that help visitors understand how their actions support conservation.

Khwezi joins the team with a strong environmental background and valuable skills in GIS and data capturing. She is inspired by WESSA’s role in protecting the planet while educating and creating awareness in communities.

“As an environmentalist, WESSA aligns with my values of conserving nature while educating and creating awareness to different communities,” she says.

Khwezi is particularly interested in using her GIS and data skills to support coastal programmes such as Blue Flag, while also contributing her knowledge of coastal and environmental legislation. She hopes to grow her project coordination and management skills and deepen her understanding of what it takes to run effective Blue Flag and Green Coast initiatives.

 A clear interest in the future of sustainable tourism and environmental action

 Thokozani believes that green tourism creates opportunities beyond guiding and ranger work, including sustainability audits, eco-certification and environmental education. His advice to young people interested in this space is simple: learn the frameworks, understand the opportunities, and remember that “take only memories, leave only footprints” is not just a slogan, but the future of tourism.

Khwezi echoes this with a powerful reminder that sustainability is active and ongoing: “Green is a process, not a status. We need to think of ‘green’ as a verb, not an adjective.”

“As they begin their internship journey, Thokozani and Khwezi will support WESSA’s Coastal Programme in strengthening environmental awareness, visitor engagement and practical conservation action along South Africa’s coastline,” adds Mike Denison, WESSA Coastal Programme Senior Manager.

WESSA looks forward to seeing their growth, ideas and contributions take shape as part of the Durban team.

Pictured above: Louelle Chelsea Philander

WESSA is excited to welcome Louelle Chelsea Philander as our new Northern Cape Coordinator: Schools & Youth Unit.

Louelle brings a strong science-based foundation to the role, with a BSc Honours in Environmental and Water Science and experience across biodiversity management, project coordination, community-based environmental education and stakeholder engagement. Her work has included invasive species management, ecological restoration, environmental education, community outreach, skills development workshops and programme monitoring and reporting.

Louelle brings a strong science-based foundation to the role, with a BSc Honours in Environmental and Water Science and experience across biodiversity management, project coordination, community-based environmental education and stakeholder engagement. Before joining WESSA, she worked with L Noah Supplies and Projects, the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department, including the Invasive Species Unit (Green Jobs Project) and Environmental Capacity Building Unit, as well as SANParks’ Addo Elephant National Park as the Tourism Monitor – Socio-Economic Transformation Department, where her work included ecological restoration, invasive species management, environmental education, community outreach, skills development workshops and programme reporting.

For Louelle, joining WESSA is an opportunity to deepen the impact of environmental education in schools and communities.

“Through my experience, I have witnessed the powerful role environmental education plays in engaging communities, fostering a sense of stewardship, and driving meaningful conservation outcomes.”

In her first year, Louelle hopes to strengthen engagement with schools and create lasting impact by helping learners and communities turn environmental awareness into meaningful action.

“I see these programmes as an investment in people – because when individuals carry the message forward, apply what they’ve learned, and share it with others, the impact grows far beyond just one interaction.”

Welcome to the team, Louelle. We’re excited to see the impact you will help grow across the Northern Cape.

WESSA is pleased to welcome Katherine Imrie as the newly appointed Coastal Programme: Research and Monitoring Coordinator, based at the Chintsa East office.

Katherine joins WESSA with a strong academic foundation in marine biology, environmental science and sustainable development, as well as hands-on experience in field research, conservation storytelling and community engagement. Her work sits at the intersection of people, nature and conservation – a space she describes as being driven by “curiosity, connection and action”.

A deep connection to the natural world

Katherine’s journey into environmental work has been shaped by a lifelong love for nature and a desire to contribute to its protection in a way that also supports people.

“WESSA’s educate, advocate, act approach resonates with me because it turns awareness into meaningful action,” she adds.

For Katherine, conservation is not only about protecting ecosystems. It is also about strengthening the relationship between people and the natural world and recognising that lasting change is built through connection.

She is particularly drawn to WESSA’s community-driven conservation focus and believes that meaningful environmental action happens when people understand that they are part of the environment, not separate from it.

Bringing research, fieldwork and storytelling together

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Environmental & Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town, completed in 2024. She has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development through Stellenbosch University, where her studies included biodiversity and climate change, water and food systems, just and sustainable urbanism, governance, institutional change and leadership for sustainability transitions.

Her professional experience includes working as a field research assistant with the African Wildlife Economy Institute, supporting in-field data collection for research on sustainable game meat production. This role gave her practical experience in fieldwork logistics, stakeholder engagement and gathering data in varied socio-ecological contexts.

She also interned with Wild Africa, where she gained insight into impact-driven conservation through film, media and partnerships. This experience helped shape her view that conservation can happen in many ways – including through research, communication, collaboration and public engagement.

At WESSA, Katherine hopes to contribute by helping tell clear, relatable stories that connect people to environmental issues and encourage practical action, particularly in areas such as marine conservation and ghost gear awareness.

Supporting behaviour change through connection

In her new role, Katherine says, “I would like to help shift how people see their relationship with the environment, from something external to something they are part of. Even small shifts in awareness can lead to meaningful behaviour change, and I’d love to contribute to that through storytelling and engagement.”

Her approach reflects a strong appreciation for the link between people and ecosystems. She describes herself as curious, adaptable and eager to learn – qualities that will support WESSA’s ongoing work to educate, advocate and act for environmental and social justice, climate action, biodiversity protection and pollution reduction.

A message for future environmental changemakers

When asked what advice she would give to others starting out in environmental work, Katherine’s message is simple:

“Be brave. This work isn’t always recognised, but it is necessary. At its core, it’s all relational; it’s about building meaningful connections with people and the environment.”

As WESSA continues to strengthen coastal conservation, research and community engagement across South Africa, Katherine’s role will help support the organisation’s mission to turn awareness into action – and to inspire more people to care for the Earth.

Pictured above: Nxenjane Primary School, attending the WESSA Twinstreams Education Centure

This April, WESSA’s Education Centres continued to create meaningful learning spaces where learners could explore environmental challenges through curiosity, creativity and practical problem-solving.

From the WESSA Twinstreams Education Centre to the WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre, learners were introduced to hands-on activities that connected classroom knowledge with real-world environmental action.

Turning environmental challenges into solutions

At the WESSA Twinstreams Education Centre, Nxenjane Primary School participated in the Old Mutual Insurance project, which empowers educators and learners to identify environmental issues in their schools and communities and develop practical solutions through innovation.

The project integrates environmental learning into e-STEAM subjects: Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Through this approach, learners are encouraged to think critically, explore sustainability-focused solutions, and apply their classroom knowledge in practical ways.

Using the “Solution Flower” framework, learners unpacked environmental issues from the ground up, developing ideas that could be shaped into prototypes and real-world interventions.

First-time learning experience at uMngeni Valley

Pictured above: Asithuthuke Combined School learners exploring previous projects and prototypes at the WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre.

Asithuthuke Combined School from Zenzani Village in Howick visited the WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre for the first time in April. Learners took part in introductory activities focused on water quality studies and team building, giving them an opportunity to strengthen their connection with both their educators and peers.

During their visit, learners explored the Science Centre, also known as the e-STEAM Room, where they viewed previous projects and prototypes created by other schools. These examples offered inspiration and showed learners how environmental challenges can be turned into practical, creative solutions.

Pictured above: Asithuthuke Combined School learners taking part in the Pickup Points challenge, exploring how sound travels through a bucket radio experiment, and conducting a miniSASS water quality test using a clarity tube to see the water clearance.

The learners also participated in the Pickup Points challenge, where they worked to remove corn from different holes. This activity tested their patience, problem-solving and critical thinking skills in an engaging and practical way.

Another highlight was the bucket radio sound experiment. Using a metal bucket setup, learners compared two different bucket sizes to investigate which produced the loudest sound. The activity helped learners explore how sound travels and how size and material can affect sound intensity through real-time experimentation.

WESSA’s Education Centres offer experiential learning, giving learners the space to ask questions, test ideas, work together and discover how science, creativity and environmental action can shape a more sustainable future.

Contact us to learn more and book your next Education Centre visit. https://www.wessa.org.za/education-centres/

Pictured above: Langa High School learners planting indigenous trees in the school’s biodiversity garden.)

[This blog has been developed from copy shared by Eco-Club coordinator Ms Nyamakazi, the Langa High School Eco Club]

“We’re not just talking green, we’re growing it.” This was the powerful slogan behind Langa High School Eco Club’s Earth Day celebration, held under the theme of climate change and action.

In partnership with Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Eco Club planted more than 20 indigenous trees, plants and flowers in the school’s biodiversity garden. This builds on the more than 50 trees already planted in 2025, helping to create a greener, healthier and more climate-conscious school environment.

For the learners and educators involved, the garden is more than a once-off Earth Day activity. It is a living classroom, a safe space and a long-term commitment to ecological sustainability. As the plants grow, they will help clean the air, support a more ecosystem-friendly school environment and create a space that future generations of learners can continue to care for and enjoy.

Pictured above: Langa High School learners planting trees)

Learning from nature in the city

The school’s environmental journey has been shaped by meaningful learning experiences, including a visit to Intaka Island, where learners saw how nature can thrive within an urban environment.

As reflected by the Eco Club, the lesson was clear: nature in the city is possible when people choose to protect and restore it. Their Earth Day tree planting showed this in action, turning learning into visible change on the school grounds.

Growing action beyond Earth Day

Led by Eco-Club coordinator Ms Nyamakazi, the Langa High School Eco Club continues to take part in a range of environmental learning activities. These include climate change debates, biodiversity-focused visits and future plans to visit the Aquarium and other environmental institutions.

Through these experiences, learners are deepening their understanding of climate change, biodiversity and the role they can play in caring for the planet.

Langa High School’s Earth Day celebration is a reminder that environmental action does not always begin with big gestures. Sometimes, it begins with a group of learners, a garden, and the decision to grow something that will last.

As the Eco Club says: they are not just talking green – they are growing it.