Greencape, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting SA’s green economy, and Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), aim at inspiring young individuals to help develop innovative solutions as societal change agents.
The two NGOs recently held a competition, Youth Voices Competition (YVC), funded by the European Union.
“This competition serves as an exciting element of the SA Climate Change Champions Project, funded by the European Union. Spanning across the Eastern, Western and Northern Capes, this initiative draws inspiration from the international Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme, designed to empower youth as champions for climate justice within their communities,” said GreenCape spokesperson, Tyrese Rooi.
Lindokuhle Bici, a Grade 9 learner at Nompumelelo High School in Whittlesea and dedicated member of the Climate Change Champs Youth Network, claimed the first prize of a laptop to support his “fledgling journalism career.”
“Despite trying to find balance between academic responsibilities and the competition, Bici demonstrated great commitment to environmental advocacy, showcasing a strong ability to tackle complex climate change issues and motivate the community towards positive change,” Rooi said.
The Northern Cape was not left behind, as Juvann Links from Bergsig took second prize. Rooi described him as a proactive individual who has played a key role in the Climate Change Champs Youth Network.
“Taking the third spot is Sinayo Lungile, of Chintsa in the Eastern Cape, a devoted GreenCape steward and a graduate in Nature Conservation. Her curiosity about the impacts of climate change on coastal communities, and passion for nurturing sustainable communities are the driving forces behind her work,” he said.
“The YVC aims to inspire young individuals, particularly from marginalised communities, to not only raise awareness about environmental issues but also to help develop innovative solutions as societal change agents,” Rooi said. Climate Change Champs who actively participated in the project were invited to submit their articles or videos. These were evaluated by a panel of judges using the YRE rubrics as the benchmark for the assessments.
