In 2012 the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) issued a call to Non-Profit Organizations and Training Institutes to participate as Implementing Agents in the Youth Environmental Services (YES) programme. The main objectives of the YES programme is to expose youth to the green economy, build capacity through training, enable future employment through education, provide experiential learning in the workplace and create eco-entrepreneurs.
The Wildlands Conservation Trust responded to the call to enable youth participation in the Green Economy in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape provinces.
A year later Wildlands and DEA are proud to have hosted the graduation of 179 youth participants of the YES programme. The graduation ceremony was held on the 10th of April in KwaZulu-Natal for uMgungundlovu and eThekwini Municipalities at the Buffelsdraai Landfill Site, and one is due to follow soon in the Eastern Cape.
“We were honoured to have Nomfundiso Giqwa, Director of Programme Training and Youth Development from the Department of Environmental Affairs, as the guest speaker at the event,” said Dr Roelie Kloppers Executive Director at Wildlands.
Nomfundiso Giqwa of DEA spoke very fondly of the graduates. “You have all come a long way and it gives me great pleasure to be here today to celebrate a tough yet such a successful journey with you. Do not give up on your dreams, you have taken the first step now push to reach your goals,” said Giqwa.
“It has been a long and tough year for all of us involved and especially for the participants. We are very proud to be hosting this event and honouring you as beneficiaries of this programme. We also understand the complexity of the programme, but you have made it against all odds,” commented Dr Roelie Kloppers.
Nikiwe Gcabashe, one of the graduates of the YES programme was ecstatic – “There were challenges along the way but we managed to overcome them with good mentorship. Thanks to Wildlands and the Department of Environmental Affairs for the opportunity, I am looking forward to the future after this programme,” Nikiwe said with a big smile on her face.
Graduates will be receiving a National Certificate in Nature Conservation Resource Guardianship from the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA).
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)