Written by: Thumeka Qupuna
National Marine Week is celebrated annually during the second week of October. This is an Environmental Education Campaign aims to educate all South Africans about the role oceans play in their daily lives and creating awareness of the oceans and coastal environment, the promotion of sustainable utilization and conservation thereof, for the benefit of all present and future generations. It endeavors to bring the science alive to allow the public and the young to understand the value of the role of the oceans.
There is an extensive increase in the number of marine animals entangled in debris found in the oceans each year. It is imperative to create awareness about the dangers of this.
Hope Scholars from Sophumelela Senior Secondary School honoured an invite from Save Our Seas Foundation to participate on Marine Week programme at The Shark Education Centre. Learners were welcome warmly and participated on ice breaker activities and PowerPoint presentation facilitated by Justine Swartz who is an environmental educator at education centre.
The educational programme primarily focused around the theme of marine week ,different creatures, why they are important , and how we can protect them against plastic pollution and other harmful impacts. Learners also learnt about oceanic living organisms and their interactions. The learners explored a practical side of learning by participating on rocky shores surveys “It was indeed a very entertaining and hands-on programme aimed at creating environmental education among the learners” said Amahle Spaji who is a learner at Sophumelela Senior Secondary School.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mr. Shane Everts, Head of Communications and Fundraising, South African Education Project (SAEP) 082 537 8721, shane@saep.org
Technical Education-related queries: Mr. Donavan Fullard, Chief Executive Officer, South African Education Project (SAEP) donavan@saep.org
MORE ABOUT SAEP A multi-cohort program promoting access and better education outcomes among children and young adolescents. www.saep.org