How you can get involved
There are many different opportunities for involvement with WESSA, depending on where your interests lie – be it through a membership, your time, skills and expertise, or a donation towards our work
BECOME A MEMBER
Join the Society and receive regular communications from us including environmental event updates and quarterly newsletters. We'll also keep you informed about events happening in your area and opportunities to become more involved. Choose from the various membership options available.
SUPPORT A FRIENDS GROUP
Join an existing Friends Group
Please refer to our list of Friends Groups in the Western Cape to identify one in your area.
Start a new Friends Group
WESSA has produced a special handbook on how to start and effectively run a Friends Group, and will guide and support you through the process.
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
Volunteering your time can be very rewarding on a personal level, giving you a stronger sense of community and the knowledge that your involvement really has made a difference. Getting involved also presents valuable networking opportunities should you be considering a career within the environmental field. Opportunities include:
Help out at special calendar day events
WESSA is actively involved in many of the annual environmental calendar days, such as World Wetlands Day, International Coastal Clean Up Week and River Health Week. We often require ‘extra hands' to assist with running education programmes and co-ordinate public participation.
Assist us at shows and exhibitions
WESSA participates in several environmental events each year and assistance is always needed with setting up stands and handling queries.
Join the 'Lick ‘n Stick' newsletter team
Become part of the group of dedicated ladies who meet every quarter to help us prepare our printed newsletters for distribution.
VOLUNTEER YOUR EXPERTISE
From time to time we require assistance with special projects as well as research for EIAs and general administration (such as archiving, organising our education resources library and membership drives). We also need volunteers for leading membership walks and for giving talks. Please let us know your area of expertise so that we can link you to suitable volunteer opportunities as they become available.
ATTEND ONE OF OUR EDUCATION COURSES OR EVENTS AND EDUCATE OTHERS IN TURN
We offer environmental education courses from time to time. We also run a programme of walks, outings and talks for members. Details of these can be found in our quarterly Cape Environment newsletter as well as regular e-mails sent out to members.
HELP US GROW OUR ECO-SCHOOLS
Why not encourage your local school to participate in the Eco-Schools programme! The Eco-Schools Programme is supported by WWF-SA and WESSA, endorsed by the Department of Education and funded by TetraPak. Currently, there are almost 1000 schools registered with the programme. Please refer to the WESSA website for more information.
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR FOR WESSA
Join our National social networking group on Facebook, or our Western Cape Ning network to stay ‘in the loop' and use every opportunity to tell your friends and family about the work we do and encourage them to get involved too.
SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY
Sponsor a specific project
A list of all our current projects is available for review and we will soon have an online project sponsorship facility available on our website.
Make a bequest
Leave a conservation legacy that will help us continue doing good work for future generations. Please refer to our bequests brochure or contact our office to arrange a time to discuss this option.
Select WESSA as your beneficiary for your My Village My Planet card
Please refer to www.myschool.co.za for further information regarding this programme.
Make a general donation towards our work
Our account details are:
Standard Bank Branch Code 025 609 Account No. 27 009 73 92
Reference: Please reflect your name and "General Donation".
Please send us an e-mail ( westerncape@wessa.co.za ) advising us of your donation in order that we may contact you and acknowledge your support in writing.