WESSA Share-Net
WESSA Share-Net is an innovative South African-based, informal networking project that supports environmental education through the provision of resource materials.
WESSA Share- Net is co- ordinated by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, outside Howick in KwaZulu-Natal. Operating alongside and in partnership with the SADC Regional Environmental Education Centre, WESSA Share-Net provides stronger support to environmental education initiatives in the southern African region.
The printing of resources occurs mainly at the WESSA Share-Net office, but an increasing number of resources are developed in other regions.
With a responsive and participatory orientation, WESSA Share- Net
- develops and reviews contextually relevant learning support materials for environmental education and education for sustainable development
- supports educators, curriculum developers, and professional development courses
- provides low-cost printing and publishing facilities to members of the community
- provides an affordable mail-order support service
- maintains a network of people, places and publications in environmental education
- supports environmental education centres.
Share-Net resources are copyright-free for educational purposes. Redevelopment for local use is encouraged. The environmental materials can be used to complement one another and provide a rich, integrated learning experience. The WESSA Share-Net project is supported by WWF-SA, McCarthy Ltd, Old Mutual, the Mazda Wildlife Fund, DUPLO, Mondi and many other institutions and organisations across southern Africa.
WESSA Share-Net resources include:
Hands-On and Beginners' Guides.
These support fieldwork and are ideal for discovering ecosystems and species through hands-on experience.
The booklets in this series aim to equip people with information and ideas to take effective environmental action in their local communities. These resources include catchment action, the How-To series and community-based natural resource management booklets.
Enviro Picture Building
Through constructing and discussing pictures of the environment, learners gain confidence in articulating and responding to local environmental issues.
Indigenous Knowledge (IK)
The IK & Today series has been developed to mobilise indigenous knowledge for school and community contexts. The booklets are centred on the wisdom in early patterns of life and challenge us to live more sustainably today.
Teachers Guides
Designed to provide teachers with a range of learning activities, these guides are related to specific topics such as soil, water, forests, the greenhouse effect and Arbor Week.
The Hadeda Island Curriculum Pack is a collection of teaching and learning support materials that takes an imaginative look at birds to stimulate learning about habitats, environmental responsibility and democratic processes. These materials focus on foundation and intermediate phase learners.
Other activity packs, on birds, wetlands and sanitation, contain support materials for teachers to use.
Enviro Facts
60 concise, up-to-date fact sheets on environmental issues in South Africa are also available from WESSA Share-Net. The sheets contain accurate, easy-to-understand information. A list of further reading and useful addresses enables school groups and communities to take action.
Water Quality
The water quality and monitoring resources include booklets and simple apparatus that can be used to investigate water quality,with a particular focus on visible animal life.
EE Policy and Theory
Environmental education practitioners need access to current policy, curriculum and educational initiatives. The booklets in this series are useful tools to support professional development.
E-Info Box
This cardboard 'library' contains a carefully selected range of teaching support materials for both fieldwork and classroom use. Included are the Hands-On library (with display stands), 60 Enviro Fact Sheets, indigenous knowledge leaflets and the practical How-To series.
P.O. Box 394
Howick
KwaZulu Natal
3290
South Africa
KwaZulu Natal
3290
South Africa
033 330 3931 ext 124/144
033 330 4576
www.sharenet.org.za
