WESSA 2023 AWARDS
THE 2023 WESSA ANNUAL AWARDS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
1. To recognise the people, groups or institutions who passionately advance the cause of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa in an exceptional and sustained manner.
2. To increase public awareness of local or national achievements in environmental
conservation and/or education. Main criteria for the WESSA Awards is: “Any individual, corporate/organisation, community group, educational group, conservation or environmental group who have done outstanding and sustained work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa.”
Note:
1. The above contribution can be made at a local level, but it should be of national significance or be able to be replicated at a national level.
2. In exceptional cases, the WESSA Awards Committee may consider submissions where the activity has not been on a sustained basis.
Who can nominate?
Anyone can nominate a deserving candidate, however, WESSA staff are not eligible for these awards. Only in exceptional cases may previously awarded recipients be nominated again. Nominations can be submitted to the WESSA Awards Committee using the link provided below.
Nominations timeline:
Nominations via the online link, close at 5pm on Saturday, 25th November 2023. Thereafter the Awards Committee of independent judges will adjudicate the submissions and select the winners in each category. Late submissions outside this period will not be accepted. Successful candidates will be notified by 8 th December 2023 that they are in-line to receive an award. Winners will be presented with their award in person early 2024. The final decision by the Awards Committee is based entirely on the contents of the submission. As a rule, the committee will not undertake further research into the achievements of the nominees nor the veracity of the claims made. Nominations must therefore be both substantial and substantiated. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Announcement of the awards:
The 2023 WESSA Awards recipients will be announced by WESSA CEO, Ms. Helena Atkinson at a date to be confirmed. No public announcement will be made prior to this date.
Awards:
WESSA reserves the right to alter or cancel the awards at its discretion. By participating in the awards, the winners agree to publication of their name and where possible photographs for marketing and promotional purposes. A list of the recipients of 2022 WESSA Awards is available on our website www.wessa.org.za
Procedure for WESSA Awards nominations:
Nominations must be submitted in writing via the linked Google Form and should include:
1. Full name of person or organisation nominated (nominee).
2. Nominee’s or their representative’s telephone and email contact details.
3. Full name of person’s proposing the nominee (proposer) and their telephone and email contact details.
4. Full motivation for the nomination in which the nominee’s exceptional and (where appropriate) sustained contribution(s) to environmental conservation and/or education are described, with a specific focus on outcomes and achievements.
5. Links to any web-based information about the nominee and/or their work for which they are being lauded for may be included at the end of the motivation.
[LINK BOX: Click here to submit your nomination for the WESSA Awards https://wessa.us7.list- manage.com/track/click?u=56059521c3da3a79f9539aa3d&id=ce82e74a0c&e=9093ab4b82 ]
Award Categories
WESSA AWARD FOR INDIVIDUALS
As WESSA’s premier award to an individual, the nominated person must be considered to have made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period of time and at a national level. “Outstanding contribution” in this context is understood to be a contribution over and above what would normally be expected from their work.
WESSA AWARD FOR YOUTH
Youth have become more dedicated to addressing environmental concerns and addressing them as their lifelong passion. In the Youth Award category, WESSA aims to recognise individuals under the age of 35 who have wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to environmental preservation and/or education. These individuals should be making an exceptional impact with positive, nationwide outcomes at a national level.
WESSA AWARD FOR CORPORATES
This award is made to corporations or institutions for outstanding contributions to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period of time and at a national level.
WESSA AWARD FOR GROUPS
This award is made to any group of volunteers (e.g., community, educational, environmental) who have done outstanding work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education over a sustained period of time. Such contribution could be in their local area but should be of national significance or be able to be replicated on a national scale.
WESSA AWARD FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR
This award celebrates the unique contribution of teachers who are a part of the Eco Schools Programme. It honours their commitment to improving the quality of environmental education in the South African school curriculum and enriching the lives of their students.
WESSA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a person who has made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa, over their lifetime and at a national or international level. The aim is to present a single award in each category annually. Nonetheless, the Awards Committee has the discretion to exceed this limit in any given year. Additionally, if no deserving candidate or candidates are nominated, the Awards Committee retains the authority to either refrain from granting any awards or to request additional nominations.
Any questions or clarification about the WESSA Awards should be addressed to Morgan Griffiths at:
awards@wessa.co.za
[LINK BOX: Click here to submit your nomination for the WESSA Awards
