Xoli Fuyani
Women in the Environment and Sustainability
Nominee's Province:
Western Cape
Project Name/Description:
Earthchild Project – Co-ordinator of Environmental Education in Schools Programmes
Xoli Fuyani decided to build a career in environmental education when she was first nominated as one of four young people to go on Mission Antarctica team, a campaign initiated by the City of Cape Town in collaboration with Robert Swan, a scientist who had explored the impact of climate on the iceberg. During this campaign, the team travelled 16 000km around South Africa raising awareness on the impact of waste on our environment. All this happened in the lead-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Fuyani, 38, was only 16 at the time and fresh out of matric at Malibu High, Bluedowns in the Western Cape. When that excursion was completed six months later, Fuyani knew she had found her passion. She then furthered her studies, obtaining a Diploma in Environmental Education from Rhodes University. She also started volunteering at Pride of Table Mountain, leading youth excursions, especially for marginalized communities, to help develop their knowledge of the importance of protecting the environment. Fuyani believes the way to save the world is to work with young minds. This is the work she has been doing since her days in 2003 at Eco-schools where she was coordinating environmental education at 11 primary schools in Gugulethu, Cape Town. She went on to facilitate a WESSA Adopt-a-beach programme, teaching learners about coastal environment conservation. Currently part of Earthchild Project team, where she serves as co-ordinator of environmental education in schools programmes, Fuyani says her dream is to inspire young ones create the change they want to see.
