World Ranger Day: Celebrating the Guardians of a Changing Planet To celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Ranger Day, WILDTRUST is highlighting the dedicated nature guardians who work tirelessly to protect our wildlife, ecosystems, and communities.

Kelp forests reduce wave energy, protect coastlines, recycle nutrients, and provide shelter for thousands of marine animals. Swipe to see why kelp is essential.

Sessions covered equipment handling, basic copy writing, photography techniques, media transfer, and the effective use of communications and photography applications to support quality storytelling and reporting from the field.

The training aimed to strengthen participants’ communication skills through a collaborative effort between Community Hub Managers and the Communications Team.

The training served as a follow-up to the second annual internal Communications, Brand, and Marketing Training held at the Durban office in May this year.

Recently, WILDTRUST’s Communications and Marketing team traveled across northern KwaZulu-Natal to deliver WILDTRUST Communications Skills Training to this year’s cohort of Youth Employment Services (YES) in partnership with Nedbank, community media assistants.

“I really enjoyed this training and got to meet colleagues from other areas. The information shared has boosted my confidence to engage learners about the ocean, and I can’t wait to deliver these sessions to my pupils,” said Olwethu Mdunge from Nqutshini.

Coordinated by WILDTRUSTs Dudu Vilane and Marvin Ntsalaza, the training fostered a collaborative learning environment that will strengthen ocean literacy across the region.

Through interactive activities, participants explored topics including ocean ecosystems, marine biodiversity, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and climate change, while sharing their own experiences and knowledge of the ocean.

The training aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to deliver the Harry the Hammerhead sessions in schools and communities.

The training brought together 45 members of the Youth Employment Services (YES) Ocean and Awareness School Support Teams, library assistants, and environmental educators from the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project areas.

Last week, the uThukela Ocean and Awareness Team (O&A)hosted a four-day ocean literacy training centered on the children’s books Harry the Hammerhead Shark: Volume 1 – Shares the Good News and Volume 2 – Swims Down South.

WILDTRUST brings you another inspiring webinar! Following the success of our engaging and interactive Voices from the Coast webinar, WILDTRUST is excited to invite you to our next online session: Coastal Champions Webinar - Advancing Sustainable Fisheries & Conservation

This Mandela Day, WILDTRUST proudly reflects on the impact made through its programmes and partnerships in communities across Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.

Sometimes, the most impactful solutions are also the simplest. For Vumile Mjadu, an efficient cooking stove has meant less time spent worrying about fuel and more time focusing on what matters most.

Every part of kelp has a purpose. The holdfast anchors it to the seabed, the stipe bends with the waves, the float lifts it towards sunlight, and the blades produce food through photosynthesis. Swipe to discover how kelp works.

Her story highlights how practical, sustainable solutions can strengthen household resilience while reducing pressure on both people and natural resources. Her full story goes live next Tuesday. Made possible by the @blueactionfund.org. #GenderSuccessStories #WomenLeadingChange #uThukelaMPA

Meet Patricia Mjadu. Access to an efficient cooking solution has transformed the way she manages her household. As a recipient of a rocket stove and an efficient cooker, she has reduced fuel use, saved time, and made daily cooking more manageable for her family.

Most people have heard of forests on land… but did you know South Africa has forests beneath the waves? Kelp grows up to 60 cm a day, creating underwater forests that protect our coastline, support marine life and help fight climate change. Healthy kelp forests mean healthy oceans.

One of the participants, Asimbonge Ngubane from Mabibi, said the initiative helped him make more informed decisions about his future.

Support was provided by representatives from the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Social Development, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality.

The event attracted young people from eNkovukeni, KwaDapha, KwaZibi, Mabibi, and surrounding communities, who received guidance and hands-on assistance with tertiary applications, career planning, and funding opportunities.

To help address these challenges, WILDTRUST, through its iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project, funded by the Blue Action Fund, hosted its inaugural Tertiary Institution Online Application Drive last week in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Many vulnerable young women from disadvantaged communities face significant barriers when applying to tertiary institutions, including limited access to information, internet connectivity, online application platforms, and financial aid support.

“Today you will say with certainty that you walked in our shoes.” Meet Jabu Shandu, a Small-Scale Fisheries Monitor whose work sees her walking kilometers along rivers and coastlines to support fisherfolk, conservation efforts, and sustainable livelihoods.

Her work may require long days and many kilometers on foot, but her commitment to protecting both livelihoods and natural resources remains unwavering. Women like Jabu are helping shape a future where people and nature can thrive together.

As a Small-Scale Fisheries Monitor, her role takes her across rivers, beaches, and coastal communities, where she supports fishers, promotes sustainable fishing practices, and helps strengthen communication between local communities and conservation authorities.

For Jabu Shandu, conservation begins with community.

“My mother taught me how to farm.” For Phindile Khumalo, what began as a lesson passed down through generations has become a livelihood rooted in sustainability, resilience, and community.

The hands-on activity encouraged curiosity, teamwork, and responsibility, while teaching valuable lessons about patience, caring for the environment, and the importance of nurturing nature.