“I would like to join your group because it is inspiring and educating us about how to look after the animals of the sea. I think joining your group will make me see the world in a different way.”
“I want to learn from you and the group about nature and learn to work with other people. I want to teach little children in my street about what I have learnt from you about pollution.”
“I would like to join the DEEP group to learn more about the marine animals, marine environment, learn about how these animals live. I want to learn how and what we can do to make sure that these animals live in a clean and safe environment.”
These are just some of the comments from the 2022 intake of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s Environmental Education Programme, known as DEEP. To select learners, presentations are normally done at Masakhane School (Gansbaai) for the Grade 5 learners and then the learners are required to write a motivational letter stating why they should be selected to be in the programme. Of the 58 applicants this year, eleven learners were chosen and they have committed to the programme for three years until Grade 7. At this point the Trust runs three different groups throughout each year. There are currently 70 learners participating in the programme including those learners that have since graduated and are in high school – they become part of the DEEP Marine Club and remain engaged in various activities; including welcoming the new learners to share what the DEEP is all about and what they have learnt in the past six years the programme has been going.
“Our first session of introduction was held at the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary, one of the key projects of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. Xolani Lawo our Senior Bird Rehabilitator showed the learners how to care for injured birds. The learners enjoyed the experience as it was their first time seeing a penguin,” said educator Pinkey Ngewu. “It is my absolute pleasure to start this journey with these learners and encourage personal awareness and responsibility towards the environment through the acquisition of skills which will relate directly to the natural, social, and marine environment in which we live; renewing the connection between children and nature.”
Induction session
Introducing DEEP learners
DEEP learners received their group t-shirts sponsored by Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust & The Rolf Stephan Nussbaum Foundation
Welcome to APSS
DEEP jackets sponsored by The National Lotteries Commission
