Page 19 - Landscape-Issue142

FEATURE

JNF WALTER SISULU

ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE

The JNF Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre (WSEC) is situated in Mamelodi, east of
Pretoria, an area that is home to 340 000 residents. It works with 45 primary schools,

20 high schools and is accredited as a Level 1 Science Centre. It has been a crucial
hub for environmental education and sustainability initiatives in this community
since its inception in 2004.

he Centre’s activities can be divided learning programmes and events. Its Greening programme. Since 2014,
into three pillars: Learn, Green and facilities, including four education rooms WSEC has planted and distributed over
TGrow. In partnership with the Gauteng and an auditorium, provide a conducive 30 000 trees in Mamelodi to over 8300
Department of Education, it offers a range environment for interactive learning households, clinics, schools and creches.
of activity-based learning programmes experiences. The focus of the programmes It has also set up food gardens in many
aimed at educating and raising awareness is on water, waste, energy and biodiversity schools. Many of the trees are grown in its
among school learners and the Mamelodi management, and climate change. own Community Connect nursery.
community. In addition to its environmental By promoting biodiversity, conserva-
learning projects, the WSEC runs other tion, environmental awareness and sus-
Learn STEM (science, technology, engineering tainable community development, green-
The Centre has been instrumental in and mathematics) programmes, including ing initiatives contribute to building more
reaching out to the community, hosting maths and science tuition for Grade 12 resilient and environmentally conscious
over 130 000 beneficiaries from Mamelodi learners, and a robotics program. communities. With the continued chal-
and southern Tshwane communities. With lenges of climate change and environmen-
a focus on school learners from Grade R Green tal degradation, the importance of such
to Grade 12, the centre engages more WSEC plays an important role in community-driven efforts in creating a
than 13 000 students annually through improving the physical environment in greener and healthier future for all cannot
various conservation and environmental the community through its Mamelodi be emphasised enough.

Entrance to the WSEC auditorium and
environmental theme rooms

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