In celebration of World Earth Day, the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM) and its partners, ArcelorMittal, Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve and Fossil Park launched the Eco-club with Jurie Hayes Primary School and Hopefield Primary School at the West Coast Fossil Park on Thursday 21 April.
Ethne Lawrence, spokesperson for SBM, said it is an exciting, new curriculum-based programme, developed in partnership with various stakeholders, which seeks to bring a holistic approach to environmental stewardship involving various topics within the curriculum.
She said: “Major inspirations for starting the programme are the observations of learner participation and engagement in environmental-braced programmes, coupled with scientific evidence of how a hands-on learning experience solidifies the individuals’ learning process. In a nature-rich environment it is evident that nature would be the ideal classroom material as a medium to learn things relative to the curriculum and the individual.”
The programme also highlights the national directives and regulations in alliance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to lessen our carbon impacts and optimise the benefits and symbiotic relationship we have with the earth.
Lawrence adds that the The Eco-club was officially launched by Saldanha Bay Municipality’s Executive Mayor Andre Truter.
He applauded the programme initiative and relayed his enthusiasm to see the programme impact learners’ journey to a sustainable future for all.
Truter reiterated that nature is the greatest classroom. It is a classroom in itself, teaching valuable lessons such as mathematics, which can be recounted to lessons decades back as man’s initial recording instruments of lunar and solar systems.
It’s the vibrancy and inspiration to nanotechnology, the teacher, to understanding physics, chemistry, biology, basically all things we are dependent on.”
Lawrence adds this will ultimately create environmental awareness and environmental responsibility while igniting an appetite for a love for nature as it teaches lifelong sustainable lessons now and in future.
