Sun International’s three-year partnership with WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), for which learners at schools around the country have been supported as they created eco-classrooms to build environmental resilience in schools and their communities, is coming to a successful end.

Developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to promote environmental learning globally, WESSA, has been the national operator of the Eco-Schools programme in South Africa for more than 21 years.

Sun International donated more than R2.6m to support the programme in schools in areas surrounding their properties. The project included more than 5 300 learners ranging from Grade One to 12, and culminated with three World Environment Week events, with learners thoroughly enjoying both their showcases and the engaging educational programme.

“Over the past three years, our Sun International Eco-Schools project has successfully supported schools create eco-classrooms where learners, teachers and school leadership used the eco-schools seven-step framework to chart a way to build resilience in their schools and communities,” said Sun International’s SED manager, Heidi Edson.

The Sun International Eco-Schools project helped 19 schools learn about taking care of the environment and engaged with a broad reach of more than 25 900 learners and 600 teachers.

Through 30 teacher workshops, 260 environmental education sessions and hands-on activities like waste collection, the project fostered environmental stewardship and behavioural change.

A successful clean-up event further reinforced community engagement and sustainability practices, aligning with Sun International’s commitment to social responsibility and environmental impact.

WESSA is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advocating for sustainable solutions, conservation, championing policy initiatives and promoting environmental awareness that lead to a healthier planet.

Through its diverse range of programmes and initiatives, WESSA has been instrumental in fostering a culture of environmental responsibility across South Africa.

The Carnival City Eco-Schools project made a notable impact at two local schools – Tsimong Primary and Buhlebemfundo Secondary – by transforming them into vibrant hubs of environmental education and action.

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Learners and teachers actively participated in biodiversity workshops, citizen science surveys, and the creation of two indigenous biodiversity gardens featuring over 110 trees, shrubs, and succulents.

These initiatives helped embed sustainability into the schools’ culture and fostered a deeper appreciation for local ecosystems.

Learners celebrated Arbor Week by planting trees and presenting species research, while teachers took part in interactive workshops that integrated biodiversity, technology, and curriculum-based environmental learning.

In its third year, the project shifted its focus to sustainable waste management, launching school-based recycling programmes, joining the Sweethearts Foundation bread tag initiative, and preparing for a Waste Fashion and Art Show to showcase upcycling.

Both schools achieved Silver Awards in 2024 and received the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag in March 2025, a testament to their commitment to sustainability, climate action, and empowering youth as environmental stewards.