South Africa is famous for its mesmerising sunsets and seemingly pristine shorelines. Whether you’re the beach-bum, slick-surfer or the promenade patrolling type, South Africa boasts it all and more! It’s something which the country holds proud, and continues to attract both locals and tourists alike.
However, below the beauty lays an ocean choking on plastic, not just in South Africa, but all over the world. So how can we join those who do their part to help keep them clean?
Volunteering in Cape Town and surrounds comes with plentiful opportunities for fulfilment and change, one of which being beach clean-ups.
So here’s how you can help:
Just keep swimming?
Sure, if you find swimming through a garbage patch twice the size of France appealing, then feel free to swim on by the Earth’s plea for less plastic.
However, if you are less about coasting along through these issues and all for coasting towards a better future, follow ‘Coastal Ghost.’ He has started a huge cleaning project, together with the helpful hands of heaps of humans from all over the world. More of a dog person? His three, four-legged furry friends are never far behind.
His clean-ups are situated all over the South African coastline. So, whether you’re here on a visitor’s visa, a volunteer visa, or even as a permanent resident, you’re bound to be in the same area as one of them at some point. He also regularly posts feel-good news about ocean clean-ups from all over the world, bonus!
- When: Follow him on Facebook for the next planned event
- Where: All over the coast
Drown in some serious glory, for both yourself and the ocean!
If you’re all about helping the earth, but “ain’t about that travelling far to do so” life, then look no further. You can still be a part of beach clean-ups, be it in your backyard or through organised South African volunteer programs, all from your phone!
Granted, you’ll still need to take a couple steps away from your comfortable abode. However, that’s all you’ll need to become a trash-collecting, scientist. More-so, they will be some of the most rewarding steps you’ll ever take.
You can use the Clean Swell app to keep track of all the trash you’ve swept-up from the beach, and sweep others off their feet with your progress. You can even use this app in conjunction with volunteer programs to add valuable trash research data. It also tracks distance covered, so is there really a more rewarding way to mark your way along some of the most exquisite beaches in the world?
Use this map and find one of the South African volunteer programmes closest to you: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/volunteer/
- Where: Anywhere
- When: Whenever your heart desires
Dropping names, not litter.
Looking for more to chew on, little shark? Here are a couple more names of consistent volunteer programmes, to keep you swimming in the right direction:
Trash-bashes – Two Oceans, Cape Town
The Two Oceans Aquarium has been involved in the International Coastal Clean-up Day for quite some time now, but has in recent years expanded to help even more. It is estimated that in 20-30 years from now, the oceans will see more plastic than fish, by weight! Follow their trash-bash events on their site for frequent beach clean-ups.
- When: Follow their site for planned events
- Where: Mostly Cape Town and surrounds
International Coastal Clean-up Day
The International Coastal Clean-Up occurs once a year, every September, all over the world. It has been sailing on for the past 20 years and shows no sign of slowing down. So whether you’re in Durban, Cape Town, Port-Elizabeth or anywhere else along the coast of South Africa, you’ll easily find a clean-up zone near you.
- When: September
- Where: All over the world
Clean-C
Clean-C is an organised volunteer programme in Cape Town and surrounds which happens on the first Saturday morning of every month, at 10am. They organise cultural and social activities as well, so, you can have fun, be part of a family of like-minded individuals AND help make the world a better place at the same time.
- When: Every first Saturday of the month
- Where: Cape Town and surrounds
Clean up can be your act
With so many amazing volunteer programmes in South Africa, the waters can become a little clouded by choice. But hey, rather an abundance of choice than plastic, right? Whichever route you go, one thing which remains crystal clear – we need to zone-out of our daily distractions and zone-into some serious shoreline solutions, and this is a great place to start!
Speak to a professional
We can help you with all Visa Applications in South Africa. We also feature a Free Online Assessment to help you determine your current status and which steps to take next. Contact Le Roux Attorneys today to assist you in applying for your volunteer visa.
Contact Le Roux Attorneys, South African Visa specialists about your visa application. Start by selecting one of the enquiry options below
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