Youth environmental action hub in Cape Town

Organization: Mayine e Afrika Foundation Project: Community Environmental Learning Centre and School Environmental Education Network (Cape Town)

We work in underserved communities in Cape Town where many young people grow up with limited access to environmental education, safe green spaces, and opportunities to learn through nature. In many of the areas we work in, public spaces are affected by illegal dumping, littering, and neglect. Rivers, open land, and school surroundings often reflect these conditions. For many young people, this is the only environment they know.

At the same time, we have seen something important. When young people are exposed to environmental education through hands-on experiences, their relationship with their surroundings begins to change. Through community clean-ups, environmental awareness activities, and visits to natural spaces, we have seen learners begin to take responsibility for their environment, show pride in their communities, and develop a stronger sense of awareness and care.

These experiences have shown us that environmental education is not only about knowledge, but about connection, responsibility, and action.

The Project

We are establishing a Community Environmental Learning Centre in Cape Town that will serve as a permanent hub for environmental education, community engagement, and youth environmental action.

From this centre, we will coordinate a school-based environmental education network across 4 local schools, where learners will take part in structured environmental learning programmes that combine classroom learning with practical, real-world environmental action.

Across the 4 schools, we will:

• Establish environmental education classrooms or learning corners
• Facilitate structured environmental education sessions in partnership with Linchpin ESS
• Develop 4 student-managed school gardens as living environmental learning spaces
• Run ongoing nature-based learning visits to local ecosystems and natural areas
• Implement regular community clean-up and environmental action campaigns

The Environmental Learning Centre will serve as the coordination hub, training space, and public engagement centre for these activities. It will also allow us to host workshops, environmental awareness programmes, volunteer activities, and community learning events.

Our Approach

We believe environmental education must be lived, not only taught.

Instead of limiting learning to theory, we combine:

• Classroom-based environmental education
• Hands-on school garden development
• Exposure to natural ecosystems through field visits
• Community-based environmental action such as clean-ups

School gardens will function as living classrooms where learners understand soil, biodiversity, food systems, and care for living ecosystems. Nature-based visits will expose learners to local biodiversity and conservation spaces, helping them understand the importance of protecting natural systems. Community clean-ups will give learners direct responsibility for improving their environment and seeing the impact of their actions.

The Environmental Learning Centre will anchor all of this work and ensure continuity, coordination, and community access.

Community Participation

This project is built in partnership with 4 local schools, environmental education facilitators, community members, volunteers, and youth participants.

Teachers and school partners will support integration into school schedules, while learners will take active leadership roles in environmental clubs, school gardens, and clean-up activities. Community members will be invited to participate in awareness activities and environmental action days.

Through this model, young people are not only participants but active caretakers of their environment.

Timeline

Months 1–6: Establishment and grounding phase

• Formalise partnerships with 4 schools
• Secure and prepare the Environmental Learning Centre
• Conduct environmental baseline assessments with schools
• Co-design environmental education programme with partners
• Begin introductory environmental awareness sessions

Months 7–12: Pilot implementation phase

• Establish environmental education classrooms/learning corners in schools
• Begin structured environmental education sessions with learners
• Start development of 4 school gardens (design, soil preparation, initial planting)
• Begin first nature-based learning visits
• Launch initial community clean-up activities

Months 13–18: Full implementation phase

• Fully operational school gardens across 4 schools
• Regular environmental education sessions integrated into school activities
• Ongoing nature-based learning excursions
• Consistent community clean-up campaigns and environmental action days
• Strengthening of student environmental clubs and participation

Months 19–24: Consolidation phase

• Strengthen youth leadership within schools
• Improve and expand biodiversity and productivity in school gardens
• Deepen community participation and ownership
• Formalise Environmental Learning Centre as a public environmental hub
• Document environmental education outcomes and participation

Months 25–36: Sustainability and expansion phase

• Expand participation to additional learners or nearby schools (where possible)
• Strengthen long-term sustainability of school gardens and programmes
• Grow community environmental awareness programming
• Share learning with broader Cape Town environmental networks
• Explore scaling model to additional communities

Our Project in Numbers

• 1 Community Environmental Learning Centre established in Cape Town
• 4 schools participating in environmental education programmes
• 4 student-managed school gardens established
• 100–200+ young people directly engaged in environmental learning activities
• Monthly community clean-up and environmental action activities
• Regular nature-based learning visits throughout the project period

Why This Matters Now

Environmental challenges in our communities continue to grow while access to environmental education remains limited. Many young people are growing up disconnected from nature and without structured opportunities to understand or care for their environment.

At the same time, we have seen that when young people are given access to environmental education, they respond with curiosity, responsibility, and leadership.

By establishing a permanent Environmental Learning Centre and connecting it to schools through a structured environmental education network, we aim to build long-term environmental awareness, stewardship, and action within our community. This project creates not only knowledge, but a culture of care for the environment that can grow across generations.