WESSA Western Cape has successfully launched its third Environmental Education Training and Development Practices Course.

The intake of 13 new learners – mostly associated with the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department as well as two assistant educators from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and an independent student - attended a special induction session at WESSA’s training centre in Cape Town on Monday 10 October.  Senior training and management staff from their workplace joined in to encourage their colleagues and find out more about the mentoring support expected from them over the course period.

The SAQA accredited, Level 5 course has been especially developed by WESSA for people employed in the environmental field or involved voluntarily with an organisation and wanting to spread the environmental word through education.  The course equips participants with knowledge and communication skills essential skills needed in such a role or career.

The 12 month, part-time, workplace-based course includes four four-day ‘contact sessions’ conducted at WESSA.  Intended to address scarce and critical skills needs in the field course, topics include Humans and Environment Relationships;  the Environmental Movement Timeline; Environmental Ethics and Justice; and Environmental Learning – Methodology and Course Development. 

Course work is integrated into the learners’ workplace, as is regular mentoring and assessment, to ensure that the learners have a supportive environment in which they are able to develop and implement their new skills during the year. 

By October 2012 the 13 young participants should emerge as proficient environmental educators capable of effecting positive change to the benefit of people and the environment.