Pictured above: WESSA facilitators, Moduopo Primary School learners and Eco-Committee teachers
How youth action, outdoor learning and community care came together at the Ililaba Area Wetland in Thembisa
On 2 February 2026, WESSA marked World Wetlands Day at the Ililaba Area Wetland in Thembisa, bringing learning, action and youth leadership together in a powerful demonstration of what wetland protection looks like on the ground.
Under the 2026 theme Protect, Restore & Inspire, the day highlighted the essential role wetlands play in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, reducing flood risks and sustaining communities, while also confronting the very real threats these ecosystems face.
Learning beyond the classroom
The celebration was led by WESSA’s Green Rising: Protect and Restore Team, in partnership with Moduopo Primary School, and supported by 15 enthusiastic learners and two dedicated Eco-Committee teachers.
The day began with an engaging environmental education session that unpacked:
- Why wetlands are among South Africa’s most valuable and vulnerable ecosystems
- The growing threat posed by alien invasive species, with a particular focus on water hyacinth
- The urgent need for collective action to protect and restore wetlands for future generations
For many learners, this was a rare opportunity to connect theory with place – to see, touch and understand the ecosystem they were learning about, right on their doorstep.
Turning awareness into action
Pictured above: Participants engaging in the clean-up at the Ililaba Area Wetland in Thembisa.
Learning quickly moved from discussion to impact. Equipped with gloves and refuse bags, learners took part in a wetland clean-up campaign that resulted in the collection of 30 bags of waste – a strong statement of youth-led environmental responsibility and care for local natural spaces.
More than just a clean-up, the activity reinforced an important lesson: protecting wetlands is not an abstract idea, but a shared responsibility that starts at community level.
Inspiring the next generation of custodians
World Wetlands Day 2026 at Ililaba reaffirmed a simple but powerful truth: when young people are given the opportunity to connect meaningfully with nature, they rise to the role of custodians with confidence, pride and purpose.
At WESSA, learning beyond the classroom is not optional, it is essential. By creating spaces where education leads to action, and action builds stewardship, we continue to nurture a generation equipped to protect South Africa’s wetlands and the life they sustain.
As we look ahead, the message from Thembisa is clear: protecting wetlands begins with inspiring people to care for the Earth.