Making environmentalism POPular
Environmental awareness and popular culture are blended together at the annual Eden Festival of Action held on South Africa’s world-famous Garden Route between Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay.
For two weeks Eden Festival of Action combines practical ecosystem restoration work like tree-planting, with a full line-up of workshops, talks and activities from sustainability experts.
The evenings are filled with campfire sessions, storytelling and music from some of South Africa’s finest musicians.
Sponsorship by MEETCHANGEMAKERS enabled local youth from low-income households to attend the Eden Festival of Action 2022.
The festival is organised and hosted by non-profit organisation Greenpop, whose CEO and co-founder is Misha Teasdale.
“Greenpop partners with and contributes to the many local environmental and social initiatives in our region.
“We aim to be part of an environmental solution, while also teaching skills and lessons that are relevant across the globe – sharing and learning in a place that highlights some of the challenges that our planet faces on a whole.
“We believe in inclusive action and by activating local learners. They leave the event equipped with the knowledge to bring environmentalism to their communities, bettering the health of the planet for future generations to come,” he says.
Participants sponsored by MEETCHANGEMAKERS share their stories:
John-David Plaatjies
I live with my mother, my sister and grandmother in Kuilsriver. My main challenge is getting into university and finding work. I feel the knowledge shared here at Greenpop is valuable for a future career.
I gained knowledge about the faunal and flora, as well as careers in environment and wildlife spheres.
Highlights include interacting and connecting with other attendees.
The Eden Festival of Action also made me realise that nature is more than just trees.
Most of the local flora and small plants have uses beyond looking pretty.
One of my favourite times at the festival was the nature walk where we identified medicinal plants.
My favourite thing about spending time in nature is a sense of calm and relaxation brought about by the absence of noise and stinking air.
Seeing the stars on a clear night is also special.
The lesson I left the festival with is that changing your mentality and being just a little open-minded goes a long way to helping you understand the world around you.
At home I am able to recycle more efficiently.
Kyle Bowers
I come from a family that wasn’t very educated in saving the environment.
I have to convince my mother to conserve a lot of resources.
The Eden festival made me respect nature much more and to continue to better the environment.
My favourite thing about spending time in nature is that it disconnects me from the modern world and helps clear my mind.
In order to save the environment, we should use as little water as possible, throw away litter and save power at home.
Senzo Mavuso
The permaculture, integrated sustainable farming, recycling and biodigester were my
favourites because these workshops opened my mind on how I can practice sustainability
in a cheaper way that benefits me while preserving the environment for future generations to come.
I grew up in a small village where I didn’t have enough knowledge of environmental issues and had financial constraints.
My favourite thing about spending time in nature is have a peaceful time, listening to birds singing, seeing species interaction.
I am a forestry student who mostly delineate commercial forests from wetlands, rivers, ridges and indigenous forest to promote healthy relationships.
The Eden Festival changed my perspective towards nature, taught me how to be more responsible and how love nature and myself.
When I get home, I will be installing a biodigester.
Mya Hlengisa
I come from a family that wasn’t very educated in saving the environment.
I have to convince my mother to conserve a lot of resources.
The Eden festival made me respect nature much more and to continue to better the environment.
My favourite thing about spending time in nature is that it disconnects me from the modern world and helps clear my mind.
In order to save the environment, we should use as little water as possible, throw away litter and save power at home.
Eden Festival of Action 2022
• 1,650 trees were planted
• Over 3,300 plant-based meals were served
A great amount of alien vegetation was cleared
• A beach clean-up of the Nature’s Valley beach collected 1,568 microplastic items and other litter
• 11 Scholarship students from the local community participated in the event
• There were over 45 talks, workshops, and activities hosted by expert
Tel: +41 76 466 6140