Eco Schools
The Eco-Schools programme is an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that was developed to support environmental learning in the classroom. The programme is active in 67 countries around the world and has been implemented in South Africa since 2003 by WESSA. The programme is aimed at creating awareness and action around environmental sustainability in schools and their surrounding communities as well as supporting Education for Sustainable Development in the national curriculum. With over 50% of the content in some CAPS subjects being environmental in nature, Eco-Schools makes a positive contribution towards improving education in South Africa.
Lilyfontein has been an Eco-School since 2006 and Eco principles form an important part of our school ethos. Surrounded by indigenous gardens and farmland, we pride ourselves in providing an environment and curriculum that encourages ecological awareness and practice in our everyday lives.
Lilyfontein has won the 2018 and 2019 #Call2Action Schools Recycling Award for collecting the most waste in Buffalo City. This fantastic effort is as a result of the robust recycling programme that the Eco department runs.
Each year the entire school contributes to a theme with an action project attached that contributes to the ecological infrastructure of the school. Some of these action projects over the years have included the establishment of our recycling centre, Eco brick building for our eco-classroom, extension of our permaculture garden and labelling of indigenous trees on the grounds.
Our Permaculture programme is a prominent feature of our primary school with lessons forming part of our curriculum and Grade 1-6 learners getting the opportunity to learn how to grow their own food in an organic, sustainable way. The class groups perform various tasks in the patch each week to maintain and cultivate the beautiful space all the while learning how to work as a team in the freedom of nature.
Lilyfontein was voted one of the top 5 Eco Schools in South Africa in 2016. In 2018 we were acknowledged for our outstanding achievements in the Eco-Schools’ Programme at the provincial WESSA Eco School Awards Ceremony.
Through the incorporation of Eco lessons into our curriculum, a themed focus each year and an emphasis on outdoor pursuits, our learners form a connection to the environment that follows them into their daily lives. By fostering that connection and creating an ecological awareness, Lilyfontein learners hopefully enter the world being the change they want to see.
LILYFONTEIN’S wessa ECO-SCHOOLS AWARDS
- 2023 – Platinum 3 Decade
- 2022 – Platinum 2 Decade
- 2021 – Platinum 1 Decade
- 2020 – Platinum Decade
- 2019 – Gold Decade
- 2018 – Green Flag Decade
- 2017 – Silver Decade
- 2016 – Bronze Decade
- 2015 – Diamond Decade
- 2014 – Platinum 4
- 2013 – Platinum 3
- 2012 – Platinum 2
- 2011 – Platinum 1
- 2010 – International Flag
- 2009 – Gold
- 2008 – Green Flag
- 2007 – Silver
- 2006 – Bronze