Roodepoort youth take hands-on role in coastal clean-up
More than 100 Grade Seven learners from Laerskool Roodekrans in Roodepoort travelled to Karridene Beach on 5 August to help remove litter from shoreline and dune vegetation and to take part in an environmental education session. The initiative was organised in partnership with the NPO Clean Surf Project and tour operator Outdoor Environmental Education Africa.
The clean-up combined practical work with classroom-style learning on how waste in coastal areas affects marine life and local ecosystems. Volunteers combed the sand, removed visible plastic pollution from the strand and inspected vegetated dune areas where debris can accumulate out of sight.
- Participants: just over 100 Grade Seven learners and educators from Laerskool Roodekrans;
- Partners: Clean Surf Project and Outdoor Environmental Education Africa;
- Location: Karridene Beach, KwaZulu-Natal;
- Date: 5 August.
Photographs accompanying reporting show learners and facilitators working together: Emma Martin is pictured combing the coastline for litter, while Dominique Herbst and Ewan Leach are shown collaborating during the clean-up. One of the pupils, Ludwig Magnus, is photographed holding a glass bottle he had found on the sand.
"Together, we tackled plastic pollution hidden along the shoreline, in the sand, and among the dune vegetation, learning first-hand how litter impacts our oceans," said Romy Wenzel of Clean Surf Project.
Wenzel thanked ATKV Natalia for ongoing support and for providing a venue for environmental education presentations. The session emphasised practical waste management, with instructors encouraging learners to apply the three Rs — reduce, re-use and recycle — in their daily lives.
Local learning with wider consequences
For Roodepoort families and schools, outings such as this serve two purposes: they offer learners experiential science and environmental education outside the classroom, and they contribute to visible, practical conservation work. Coastal clean-ups provide an immediate benefit by removing dangerous items such as glass and fishing line, and they also create teachable moments about consumption, disposal and civic responsibility.
Educators say that early exposure to conservation practice increases the likelihood that young people will carry sustainable habits into adulthood. The Clean Surf Project runs similar outreach events to raise awareness of marine pollution and to support local clean-ups across the coast.
| Organisation | Role | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Surf Project | Coordinator of beach clean-up and education | Romy Wenzel – 083 733 6468 cleansurfproject@gmail.com |
| Outdoor Environmental Education Africa | Tour operator and education partner | — |
| Laerskool Roodekrans | Participating school | — |
Parents and community groups interested in arranging similar outings or booking environmental education sessions are invited to contact the Clean Surf Project directly. The group advertises beach clean-ups and presentations as a way to combine service, outdoor learning and conservation.
While this expedition was coastal, the principles apply to Gauteng too: litter removed from suburbs and riverbanks ultimately reduces urban run-off that ends up in our dams and, eventually, the sea. For Roodepoort residents, the event is a reminder that small, local actions contribute to broader environmental outcomes.
Photographs published with the original report highlight the enthusiasm of the learners and the hands-on nature of the work, reinforcing that environmental education can be practical, social and immediately rewarding for young people.
Those seeking more information about similar projects can contact Romy Wenzel at Clean Surf Project on the number or email listed above.
