Youth in Conservation

Ifa Lethu. "Rescue Your Environment.. It is your problem." This programme was started in Zululand in 2018 and 2019.  The JLMT approached local schools to select pupils with a keen interest in conservation/environmental matters to participate.  A weekend programme gave these pupils, who were given stimulating addresses by a team of experts, an insight into important environmental issues.  Several pupils in their follow-up reports said that the Ifa Lethu experience was a life-changing experience.

​

Since its inauguration in 2018, there have been a number of changes in the itinerary  in order to provide KZN learners with the most educational experience within a 4 day, 3 night trip to the Weenen Nature Reserve located just over 30km from Estcourt. The Ifa Lethu Africa Project challenges all who love our African fauna and flora to understand and promote the changes necessary to ensure the survival of our wildlife heritage as we know it. We will provide the actual facts surrounding the present status of “Our African Wildlife Heritage” and the forces that threaten its very existence. We hope to encourage public commitment to actively pursue the moral, legal and sustainable solutions offered.

​

Some of the engaging activities that will be experienced by attendees include:

• First hand experience of regenerative farming

• Game Drives

• Veld Walks

• Environmental & Conservation Talks​

• Dissection

• Animal & Plant ID

• Veld Management Discussions

• Problem Solving

• Bonfires

• Team building

• And so much more!

​

Summary of Ifa Lethu Experiences

INTRODUCTION

In order for the JLMT to fulfil its environmental education mandate and achieve its goals students
will experience various themes on outings and in presentations. In broad terms the themes attempt to:

• Expose students to a good breadth of knowledge and in-field, interactive experience.

• Emphasise the importance of a conserved, biodiverse environment’s contribution to a decent, healthy, human future in mind, body and spirit. Presentations include climate change, uses and ethics of hunting, species and habitat conservation (e.g. rhino), game reserve management and regenerative agriculture.

• Emphasise the importance of students taking lifetime responsibility for their environment by action, example and leadership. Crucial career and lifestyle choices are being made at this age.

• Require each student to prepare a brief talk and address questions from others on an environmental issue of their choice.

• Each student to submit a 1 page written report on the personal value of their experiences and to score their experience in answer to a few questions.

THEMES

1. Conservation of endangered species using the rhinoceros as an iconic, high profile example.

2. Climate change.

3. Importance of conservation of habitat, biodiversity and soil in wild, agricultural and urban settings. Farm and nature reserve visits are used to provide examples wherever possible.

4. Using field guides and experts on drives and walks to develop skills in identification an appreciation of various life forms and their synergistic interdependence.

5. Expose students to eco-philosophical and eco-spiritual ideas.

6. Waste management - reusing, reducing and recycling. Catering and disposal of waste on outing will serve as examples.

7. Challenges encountered in nature reserves and how they are managed.

8. Student environmental presentations and discussions.

9. Students solving environmental problems in teams of three and reporting back to the group.

​

CONCLUSION
Depending on constraints of time and availability of expertise not all themes will be covered. The
JLMT will however try to ensure as much breadth and depth as possible for each student group.