Alex children dive into nature conservation with the help of the Guardian Angels Wildlife and Marine Trust’s Youth Conservation Education Project

Alex children were exposed to exotic animals and horse-riding on November 1 as part of a nature and wildlife conservation awareness campaign to teach youth about the importance of taking care of their environment.

This initiative was part of the second phase of the Youth Conservation Education Project organised by the Guardian Angels Wildlife and Marine Trust (GAWMT).

Read more: Guardian Angel Wildlife and Marine Trust launches its Youth Conservation Education Project

The event saw 250 Grade 8 pupils from five secondary schools in the township taking part in an educational and insightful day at East Bank Hall.

This follows the first phase launched on October 23 where 100 pupils took part in a community cleanup initiative along the polluted section of the Jukskei River.

The event included an educational and fun interaction with exotic animals, as some pupils hesitantly held snakes and other animals, or rode horses excitedly, wearing the t-shirts and caps which they received from the trust.

An anti-poaching organisation, Black Mambas, operated by the only unarmed women who trace poachers at the Kruger National Park, educated children about rhino poaching and the importance of conserving their surroundings.

The Black Mambas supervisor, Leitah Mkhabela, said they do not carry weapons in the course of their work because the children they bring awareness to are from the same communities that the poachers come from. If I were to go to the community with firearms, or to a school, they would be scared of me, instead of listening to my message.

“If one of their uncles or fathers is killed by rangers, won’t I be seen as the ranger that took their loved one? We instead use education and knowledge to teach the community to stop poaching. It is all about creating awareness to allow children to learn, and not to use weapons. The community, which had so many poachers coming into the game reserve, is now working with us because we are not killing,” she said.

Trust founder and trustee Raymond Kramer shared the impetus for the initiative, which stemmed from a personal encounter while bringing a tourist into Alexandra.

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His bond with the township deepened when he connected with a local taxi driver, and non-profit’s co-ordinator, Mandla Khumalo, who helped facilitate the event.

Kramer emphasised the significance of creating meaningful experiences for children grappling with the challenges of township life.

“They are loving the horses. We are bringing an extra experience to them and it’s an animal that puts them in touch with nature. We also wanted them to see people in uniforms as the children need to aspire to something. What is important is the basics and giving them the discipline. It’s the little things that we are doing to educate them that we hope would change lives,” Kramer said.

The event not only raised awareness about environmental stewardship but also celebrated the beauty of animals and the need for conservation leadership. Veterans in business and environmental advocacy, like Mashudu Ramano and equestrian experts, also contributed to the day’s discourse, enriching the pupils’ understanding of their surroundings.

As the initiative looks ahead to its third phase, students will be tasked with writing essays on wildlife conservation, with select pupils receiving sponsorship to visit the Kruger National Park, where they can experience wildlife in its natural habitat.

“These children must be influencers that can come back and talk about their experience and what they saw. It’s about letting them get lessons and see the wildlife in their real environment,” Kramer said.

He added that, for now, the project will remain in Alexandra before moving to other parts of the country.

Kramer expressed a firm commitment to the Alexandra community. “We need to be successful and need continuity with the same children. We need to build something up in Alexandra and once we have reached the stage where we feel we must go somewhere else, we will go there. We are not jumping until we do a successful job in Alex,” Kramer said.

Reflecting on the experience, Thandiwe Mkhize from Realogile High School said, “It was amazing to see and touch exotic animals. I learned how important it is to protect our wildlife and keep our environment clean. It made me realize that each one of us can make a difference.”

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