When Project 90 by 2030 first arrived on the scene in 2007, we set up Carbon-Cutting Clubs in high schools in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal with the aim of reducing the carbon footprints of the top South African schools and – by default – the learners’ homes. This project was successful to an extent but we found that, because motivated learners and teachers would come and go, consistency was a real challenge. We also found there were certain key individuals in these clubs that were clearly driven and motivated to be part of creating change within their schools and communities – individuals who were very definitely the kind of people we wanted to work with. We realized that an integral part in unlocking the potential of young people in South Africa to create low-carbon change, was the presence of consistent, motivated leadership. Thus, in 2012, the Carbon-Cutting Clubs evolved into Leadership Clubs.
Six years later in 2018, the Leadership Clubs have again evolved into a brand new initiative – YouLead. The latest incarnation of this Project 90 Youth initiative works with motivated youngsters between the ages of 15-24 specifically from Khayelitsha in the Western Cape. We have partnered with the internationally recognized “Presidents Award” to offer the participants the opportunity to get their Bronze and Silver certificates and raise their chances for employment. YouLead focuses on: developing leadership skills; nurturing an appreciation of the natural environment; building knowledge of environmental & climate-change issues; connecting with a network of young climate leaders; and achieving their Bronze/Silver/Gold “President’s Award”. The program is split into 2 phases: YouLead Lite and YouLead Plus and we initially engage with 40 youth in the first 6 months, selecting the best 10 for the YouLead Plus program and another 6 months of mentorship.
The self-proclaimed #YouLeadWarriors will be embarking on overnight hikes to Table Mountain and the West Coast in the middle of April, and then learning how to build a basic solar panel during their ‘Playing with Solar’ practical – with the support of Engineers Without Borders at the University of Cape Town.
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