Pictured: Louelle Philander, WESSA Project Coordinator with Kareeville Primary School, Eco Club learners and educator Mr Julias
As part of WESSA’s environmental education activities in De Aar, our Schools & Youth team facilitated upcycling sessions at Alpha Primary School and Kareeville Primary School on 26 August 2026.
The sessions formed part of preparations for the schools’ upcoming Entrepreneurship Days, where learners will showcase their green business ideas and sell products made from recyclable and repurposed materials.
From understanding to making
The sessions began with a short presentation exploring the difference between recycling and upcycling. Learners then put their understanding into practice through a hands-on activity using recyclable and discarded materials.
At Alpha Primary School, learners worked in groups to create art pieces using plastic and paper, experimenting with different materials and exploring how items that might otherwise be discarded could be given a new purpose.
Pictured above: Learners from Alpha Primary School showing their artwork.
At Kareeville Primary School, learners, led by their teacher Mr Julias, quickly got to work creating plastic flowers, papier-mâché jewellery and flowerpots from plastic bottles. They decorated their creations using nail polish, acrylic paint and dry paint, adding their own ideas and designs to the finished pieces.
Pictured: Learners from Kareeville Primary School diligently creating their arts and crafts from recyclable materials.
Connecting upcycling with entrepreneurship
The activity was met with enthusiasm at both schools, with learners embracing the opportunity to experiment, make and share their ideas.
More than a creative exercise, the practical sessions gave learners an opportunity to consider how upcycled products could contribute to their green business ideas and potentially become items they can showcase and sell during their upcoming Entrepreneurship Days.
By connecting environmental learning with creativity and entrepreneurship, the sessions showed learners that waste materials can have value beyond their original use. The activities provided a practical way to explore both responsible waste management and the possibilities that can come from rethinking what we throw away.