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Youth in Nature

In a region where high unemployment and limited opportunities are daily realities, especially for the youth, the Youth in Nature (YIN) Learnership Programme is more than just a training initiative. It is a bold response to a deeply felt need for meaningful work, purpose, and environmental care. Spearheaded by Nature Connect in partnership with Karoo Jeug Stigting, this programme is planting the seeds for long-term change in Calvinia and beyond.

With the mission to educate, equip, and empower young people to become environmental custodians, this programme aims to not only open doors to careers in conservation but also nurtures a generation that is actively shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for their communities.

Why This Matters

In places like Calvinia, where employment options are scarce and economic hardship persists, young people are often left without direction or opportunity. The YIN Learnership bridges that gap, offering more than skills, it offers hope. By giving youth access to accredited training, real-word experience, and a path to a formal qualification in Nature Conservation, this programme creates a platform for growth, personally, professionally and environmentally.

Laying the Groundwork for Green Futures

The first rollout of the programme just launched with fourteen enthusiastic learners from Calvinia who embarked on a week of intensive skills training. They completed two SAQA-aligned courses:

Operate Brushcutter in the Horticultural Environment
Operate a Chainsaw for Limbing and logging at Ground Level

The week began with an induction session led by Nature Connect’s Green Skills team, followed by theory and practical integration at the Beter Hantam Sentrum.

The learners then moved to the Calvinia Airfield, where they applied their brushcutting techniques in collaboration with the Hantam Municipality, contributing directly to safety, cutting open airstrip lights, while refining their cutting techniques.

Their time at the airstrip also allowed them to engage with indigenous flora, including the striking Fragrant Candelabra (Brunsvigia bosmaniae), an indigenous plant in flower this time of the year. During this fieldwork, the learners demonstrated not only technical competence but also environmental sensitivity. A highlight moment came when one learner noticed a Conehead Mantid (Empusa spp.) in the brushcutting zone and chose to relocate it safely, showing the kind of awareness and responsibility that this programme is designed to inspire.

Cutting Through Invasive Species – Chainsaw Training with a Purpose

Chainsaw training took the learners to Tierhoek Farm, after their theory training at Beter Hantam Sentrum.

At Tierhoek, they tackled Mesquite trees (Neltuma spp. formerly known as Prosopis), an aggressive invasive species that drains vital water resources and outcompetes native vegetation. Through their initial hands-on experience, the learners began to engage with ecological restoration efforts, gaining insight into how conservation involves not just protecting nature, but also actively participating in its recovery. As the programme progresses, they’ll have more opportunities to deepen this impact.

This practical experience was complemented by comprehensive training in safety, equipment maintenance, and environmental awareness, all of which was reinformed during their final assessments at Beter Hantam Sentrum.

Beyond the Training – Towards a Qualification and a possible Career

This is just the beginning. In May, the learners will dive into the first of five knowledge modules that form part of their journey towards earning a Further Education and Training Certificate: Nature Conservation: Natural Resource Guardianship Terrestrial.

But the real outcome goes far beyond a certificate.

Through the YIN Learnership, the aim is to build a local conservation workforce that not only has the skills but also the passion and drive to protect the environment while uplifting their own communities. These young people are not just beneficiaries, they are becoming leaders, role models, and agents of change.

As the YIN programme continues, our vision is to see more youth across rural areas equipped with the tools they need to forge pathways into conservation and environmental careers. The long-term impact? Stronger communities, healthier ecosystems, and empowered youth ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.