YRE – Young Reporters for the Environment
Young Reporters for the Environment is a youth-led social and environmental journalism initiative.
Aimed at young people from 11-25 years, YRE is an international programme that provides a platform to tell and share social and environmental stories in a professional way.
The programme creates a productive space for our South African youth to reimagine and craft a social and environmentally just future, which is key to sustainability.
Through the YRE framework, youth reporters are guided to investigate and identify local problems, and conduct research and interviews with communities and stakeholders to find solutions. And then, to report their findings by writing an article, exhibiting photographs or sharing short videos.
National YRE competition
Each year, the youth reporters are invited to enter the national YRE competition. The competition encourages youth to investigate a local or national environmental issue and report their findings through a written article, video clip or captioned photo. These journalistic pieces are entered in the national YRE competition and shared on various media platforms (radio, newspaper, film shows and exhibitions). Each year, the winning piece from the national competition represents South Africa in the international YRE competition.
Developing life long skills
Through their involvement in the programme our youth reporters develop enquiring minds and life-long skills including:
- critical thinking
- data analysis
- teamwork
- social responsibility
- leadership
- writing
- editing
- videography
- photography
Youth reporters are mentored by experts from various fields, giving them the opportunity to learn from and explore different careers, such as:
- environmental law
- research
- videography
- investigative journalism
- social justice
- politics
Benefits of YRE
![yre-steps young reporters for the environment steps to success](https://www.wessa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/yre-steps.jpg)
![eco-schools-logo Eco-schools Logo](https://www.wessa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/eco-schools-logo.jpg)
![leaf LEAF logo](https://www.wessa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/leaf.png)
![YRE-logo Young Reporters for the environment](https://www.wessa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/YRE-logo.jpg)
Young reporters news
Young environmental reporters raise their voices
Young people across South Africa are being empowered to investigate, document, and communicate environmental issues in their communities, through the ‘Youth Environmental Reporters and Advocates’ (YERA) programme
Winning Young Reporters for the Environment
The Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme empowers youth to investigate and report on environmental issues affecting their communities, via articles, videos, and photography.
Get in touch
NAME | PHONE | DESIGNATION | |
---|---|---|---|
Nomfundo Ndlovu | 066 349 0637 | nomfundo.ndlovu@wessa.co.za | Senior Schools & Youth Programme Manager |
Hazel Khoza | 072 741 8223 | hazel.khoza@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Manager (KZN, MP, LP, NW, GP & FS) |
Sharnay Wagner | 066 471 5425 | sharnay.wagner@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Manager (WC, NC & EC) |
Zwakele Ngwenya | 063 693 8656 | zwakele.ngwenya@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Co-ordinator (MP, FS & NW) |
Daniel Jackson | 076 789 1206 | daniel.jackson@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Co-ordinator (MP, FS & NW) |
Nomfundo Ndaba | 064 958 5618 | nomfundo.ndaba@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Co-ordinator (KZN & EC) |
Nosphamandla Ndamane | 064 880 3777 | nosphamandla.ndamane@wessa.co.za | Programes & Project Co-ordinator (WC & NC) |