Marathon run to fund outdoor learning
Environmental advisor Mmei Majuda will take on the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on Saturday 23 May. This event forms part of the Incungcu Eco Club marathon fundraiser to raise funds for environmental education trips for learners in Cape Town’s southern suburbs.
The Incungcu Eco Club marathon fundraiser supports the Botanical Society South Africa (Botsoc SA) Kirstenbosch Branch. It aims to provide field trips for learners from the Incungcu Eco Club in Retreat and Lavender Hill. The club forms part of the Incungcu Sunbird Restoration Project. This is a public benefit organisation focused on restoring Cape Flats biodiversity through school gardens and environmental education programmes.
Eco Club aims to expand outdoor learning
Club representative Elvirena Hope said the goal is to ensure learners can access meaningful outdoor learning experiences. Moreover, “Our hope with each campaign we run is to reach R20 000 as funds are needed throughout the year to keep gardens looking good and well maintained,” Hope said. “For this particular endeavour, the campaign goal is R10 000.” If the target is reached, at least 50 learners from two schools in Retreat will benefit from trips to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and a local nature reserve. The funds will cover transport, lunch, facilitation and educational resources.
Learning through nature experiences
Hope said access to natural spaces is central to the programme’s learning approach.
“Learners entering the reserves and Kirstenbosch will have an immersive experience in nature while participating in hands-on learning about the local fauna and flora,” she said. “Classroom botanical terminology is brought to life in the natural environment. Learners become more curious, more connected to the subject matter, and develop a stronger care for nature,” she added.
Sunbird corridor supports biodiversity
Incungcu plants indigenous gardens as part of a “Sunbird stepping-stone corridor” across urban areas. This creates linked habitat pockets that support pollinators such as sunbirds.
Since its establishment as a research project in 2013, the organisation has expanded its eco-club programme across six schools. It has engaged more than 1 600 learners since 2022 through after-school workshops focused on conservation, creativity and personal development. The programme has also supported the planting of 10 indigenous school gardens. Some have been maintained for more than a decade. Monitoring shows increased bird activity in urban areas.
Gardens act as ecological infrastructure
Hope said the gardens function as both learning spaces and ecological infrastructure.
“The gardens act as ‘filling stations’ for sunbirds, helping them move across the urban landscape and reach fragmented natural habitats,” she said. Learners are involved in designing, planting and maintaining the gardens. Organisers say the approach builds leadership, creativity and environmental responsibility.
Partnerships expand conservation impact
The organisation is also partnering with the Princess Vlei Forum on biodiversity education and restoration work.
This includes workshops in partner schools. It also includes the planting of 500 indigenous plants to support the restoration of critically endangered Cape Flats fynbos at Princess Vlei.
Hope said the collaboration strengthens long-term conservation impact.“Through these partnerships we are building both awareness and action, linking education directly to restoration on the ground,” she said.
Marathon runner brings experience to cause
Majuda, who works as an Environmental Advisor for Eskom Distribution in the Western Cape, has more than 20 years of experience in conservation and environmental management.
His experience includes work with Table Mountain National Park, CapeNature and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. He holds qualifications in environmental management, project management and business leadership. This includes degrees from the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University.
How to support the campaign
Members of the public can support the campaign by donating, sharing information, or following Majuda’s marathon journey on the organisation’s social media platforms.
