Three Northern Cape schools have advanced to the national finals of the 2024 Green Opportunities Challenge.

Grade 9 to 12 learners from more than 40 schools in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape entered the competition, but only eight schools were selected for the finals. The three Northern Cape teams are the Blue Bulls from Carlton van Heerden High School, Trio WR from Paballelo High Schoo, and River Rangers from St. Anna Private School in Springbok.

The competition was officially launched on 6 March, when schools could enter online on the Climate Change Champs website. The youth groups were encouraged to think how the transition to green economy could benefit their community.

Trio WR Paballelo High School. Photo supplied

They had to present a proposal on the strength of their community through a just and resilient transition into a more green economy. Their projects were presented and covered key sectors for a green economy.

The goal is to empower the youth to participate in civic engagement by supporting a shift to a green economy that will benefit their communities.

The Blue Bulls, Carlton van Heerden Secondary School. Photo supplied

Members of local government and municipalities, and Contour Enviro Group, Masiphakameni Local Development Agency, Namakwa District Municipality, Surplus People Project, Saldanha Bay Municipality, and West Coast Fossil Park made up the judging panel.

These climate change champions are preparing to stand before a panel of judges at the national finals, where they will represent their school and province. The finalists will travel to Cape Town for the final pitch event with the hope of being crowned the national winners and claiming exciting prizes.

River Rangers, St. Anna Private School. Photo supplied

The national final event will be attended by other advocates of the green economic ecosystem and will be held in Cape Town in July. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the European Union co-founded this climate change effort.

 OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony dg