In June 2005, the City of Cape Town hosted its first Youth Environmental Symposium, which was a great success. A keen participant declared: "It is essential for the youth to have a voice and this event provides that platform."
The conference is part of the City’s commitment to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In this spirit, the City invites all schools within the Cape Town metropolitan area to participate in the Youth Conference on Sustainable Development, held in August each year. Participants must be Grade 8-12 learners with a maximum of three learners and two educators per school.
In 2009, a 'Mini Youth Conference' takes place on Saturday, 1 August and the main Youth Conference on Saturday, 22 August in the Council Chambers of the Cape Town Civic Centre.
The theme for the Youth Conference on Sustainable Development in 2009 is: Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
All presentations must focus on the subject of climate change and energy efficiency, with sub-themes being Waste, Energy, Water and Biodiversity. The conference challenges learners to present solutions to the issues that they identify in these sub-themes, and to focus on environmental issues particular to their immediate community or school.
The conference will focus on moving beyond awareness to action - what we can do to reduce our ecological impact and the choices we make.
The Youth Conference on Sustainable Development aims to serve as:
- A platform for high school learners, their educators and the partner agencies who work with the schools, to showcase environmental projects in which they are involved.
- An incentive to those high schools that do not have environmental education activities.
- An opportunity for learners from different schools and walks of life across Cape Town to interact with, learn from and motivate each other.
- An opportunity for learners to voice their views and communicate with City officials.
- A vehicle to strengthen environmental education in a broad range of schools in the Cape Town metropole.
Implementation timeline:
18 February 2009
» City hosts introductory workshop for educators and learners.
» Here learners and educators discover what the conference is all about, and what the 2009 theme will be.
March 2009
» Educators discuss topics with their learners and colleagues, and register a project.
18 March 2009
» City hosts workshops where schools and partners meet and team up.
May - July 2009
» Learners investigate their chosen environmental issue, and start an action project to address that issue.
» The City, environmental partners and teachers support learners.
1 August 2009 (Saturday)
» City hosts a mini-conference.
» Learners present their projects.
» The best eight presentations will be selected to participate in the main conference on 22 August.
22 August 2009 (Saturday)
» Learners present their projects at the main Youth Conference on Sustainable Development held in the Council Chambers of the Civic Centre, Cape Town.
September - October 2009
» The People Trails.
For further information, contact:
Ms Lindie Buirski
Tel: +27 (0)21 487 2839
Fax: +27 (0)21 487 2255
E-mail: lindie.buirski@capetown.gov.za