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The Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s (DICT) Environmental Education Programme, known as DEEP, works with dedicated groups of young learners from a disadvantaged background. The programme runs for three years to monitor and evaluate the impact and growth of each and every individual learner. An educational manual, a first for the non-profit, was launched at a function held at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS), another key project of the Trust. The manual was put together by Trust educator, Pinkey Ngewu, drawing on valuable resources from various conservation partners.
“Our aim is to expose these young learners to the field of science and conservation and serve as a forerunner for future skills training,” said Pinkey. At the beginning of each year, a new group of students start their three year programme.
The educational manual will be used for the students in their second year. The function was attended by sponsors, conservation organisations and members of the Overstrand Municipality.
Councillor David Botha elaborated on the environment and its importance in his opening note.
The two groups of students showed off their knowledge with a presentation on the Marine Big 5 and marine pollution and ended off the event with some passionate singing. Pinkey said, “I have been honoured to be part of this life changing programme since 2016. I believe we are making a difference in not only the lives of the students but of the entire community by creating ambassadors for tomorrow. The DEEP teaches the youth invaluable lessons about themselves and their surrounddings. It builds inside them a love for nature.
With the environmental crisis we are facing, it is very important to educate the future of tomorrow today and rebuild the connection with man and nature.
It takes the entire community to raise a child, so let us work together in raising these blue ambassadors for our environment.”
The printing of the manual has been made possible by: Cape300 Foundation and the Community Chest. Other valuable sponsors/partners include: Marine Dynamics, Dyer Island Cruises, International Marine Volunteers, CapeNature, Overstrand Municipality, Consol Glass, PlasLantic, Mike Gibbs, Bill Watkins, Glenda Monson and Barry Ponsford.
Trust founder, Wilfred Chivell, added, “We truly believe that this long term effort will ensure that these young ambassadors protect our environmental heritage.”
