In May 2013 some 800 young graduates and matriculants, from predominantly rural parts of South Africa, were selected to be part of the National Groen Sebenza (Green Work) programme. The 2½ year Groen Sebenza programme funded by the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) is coordinated by the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
43 environmental organisations including Wildlands Conservation Trust agreed to host the young Pioneers. The role of host institution, such as Wildlands, is to ‘incubate’ Pioneers into the environmental sector, addressing priority skills shortages and giving them the mentorship and training they need to develop themselves further before entering the competitive South African job market.
Wildlands Conservation Trust is host to 38 Pioneers with some placed at the Head Office in Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, as geographers, communications officers, GIS technicians, environmental educators, training and development co-ordinators, data capturers and grant administrators; whilst those based in the field (nationally) fulfil roles such as horticulturists, stewardship facilitators, social ecologists, eco-tourism hospitality assistants, and community development workers.
Pioneers were placed with mentors and benefit from the guidance and experience they receive. “Wildlands has in turn benefitted from the additional able bodied and capable young people who have added real value to the organization,” said Moira Potter, Assistant Coordinator of Wildlands Groen Sebenza programme. “Five Pioneers have already accepted full time positions within the organisation and a few have left to take up positions elsewhere in the Green job market.”
The two Pioneers that have left the programme to take up positions within the Green sector are Zinhle Ngubane, GIS specialist at Jeffares & Green, and Nolwandle Zulu, Assistant Education Officer at eThekwini Municipality’s Department of Solid Waste.
As funding has become available in their areas of work, Yashna Maharaj, Thabisa Mazingisa, Thulani Ngidi, Lindo Hlongwane and Zandile Masikane have all been able to secure permanent positions at Wildlands Conservation Trust.
Lindo Hlongwane, who has just taken up a permanent position as a Communications Officer at Wildlands said, “Since I came to Wildlands I have been eager to learn and as a result have been actively participating in events and branding activations. Thanks to SANBI for the great opportunity and to Wildlands for believing in us.”
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)