Empowering Young Environmental Stewards

Captain Fanplastic (CFP) raises environmental literacy amongst youth globally through experiential education; that drives behavioural change in order to connect children more to their environment, prevent plastic pollution and better manage waste. Through school programmes, pop-up storytelling events and gamified cleanups; they aim to build a society of active citizens that demonstrate compassion towards the environment, apply circular thinking and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4, 6, 11, 12, 13 & 14. Their Big Hairy Audacious Pirate Goal is to turn 1 000 000 learners into plastic pirates by 2030.

Last year the CFP team, alongside The Lesedi Solar Park Trust representatives visited primary schools in the Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele local Municipalities. The 3 schools visited are Postdene Primary, HTT Bidi Memorial, Assmang Primary, Danielskuil Intermediate and Die Kuil Intermediate. During this visit interviews were conducted with the school management on what challenges they face in terms of waste management and disposal and how current waste management systems at the schools work.

The CFP team was also able to conduct fun interviews with the children they intend to work with to better understand what waste is, how it is disposed of, where the disposal takes place and how much they know about recycling. These past few months since then the CFP team has brought AGAPE Community Upliftment Projects in  Danielskuil and LoveLife in Postmasburg on board as the implementers of the CFP program. The two NGO’s received training in preparation for the much anticipated implementation of the program.

At the end of 2024 the CFP team returned to give NGO’s a refresher training, ensuring that they are all set for the program to commence. The program then kicked off in Danielskuil at Danielskuil Intermediate and Die Kuil Intermediate where the AGAPE team earned compliments from educators on a job well done in facilitating the program. The team then moved to Postmasburg, where LoveLife proved themselves equally up to the task while implementing at Assmang Primary and HTT Bidi Memorial school. 

The learners were in full enjoyment of the implementation as they got to learn Captain Fan Plastic songs, the learners received reusable bags as part of a take home initiative to encourage their parents to reduce their plastic consumption as well as environmental literacy materials. They also had a chance to go around the school premises on a clean-up walk while separating the material they pick up for recycling. The clean-up walk was a fun moment for them to put their knowledge into practice and ensure that their place of learning is clean and safe. 

The selected NGOs will continue to implement the programme throughout the 2025 school calendar year, bringing it to 2 schools in Danielskuil and 2 schools in Postmasburg. Each school receives 3 modules that teach them to become environmental stewards. The Lesedi Solar Park Trust supports Captain Fan Plastic as they help us move towards a clean environment.