Grade 7 learners from various primary schools in Gugulethu gathered at Intshinga Primary School on Friday 19 July for an Environmental Expo.
The event was organised by a local organisation Lokshin Pioneers, a non-profit organisation that works closely with disadvantaged communities to assist with their needs.
Schools that attended were Xolani, Lwazi, Siyazingisa and Intshinga.
The exhibitors included the City of Cape Town, Iziko Museums, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Sithembele Ntaba, Lokshin Pioneers founder, described the initiative as part of giving back to the community.
He said their objective is to educate and empower learners to choose the right subjects when they are in high school.
“We believe we should start nurturing them now. We are trying to prepare them for the transitional phase from primary to high school by guiding them on the subjects they must choose at high school, particularly subjects related to the environment. Our environment plays a pivotal role in our lives and we need to take care of it,” said Ntaba.
He added it is everyone’s business to take care of the environment. He said all the organisations involved in the event had active environmental components.
“Our aim is to expose our learners to this whole area of engagement from an early stage. We want the organisations to educate, inform and advise them on the routes they must follow if they want to join them.”
Intshinga principal Ncumisa Sopangiso described the initiative as educational. She said it will play a big part in assisting the learners in choosing their subjects.
“As a black community, we grew up knowing professions such as nursing, teaching and the police.
“We never knew about Environmental Science and other courses. Now, this initiative may well change their mindset and give them exposure to other possibilities and areas of inquiry.”
She stated most black communities were not aware of environmental preservation. Sopangiso urged parents to support and assist their children with their schoolwork.
Liphelo George (13), a Grade 7 learner from Xolani Primary School, said the event changed his perception of the environment.
“I didn’t know the environment is so important in our lives,” he said. “Now I know we must keep it clean so it won’t affect us in our lives.”
