From the rivers of Durban to the coastline of Cape Town, Parley’s teams and ambassadors work to educate, inspire, create opportunities and intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean.
“South Africa is one of the most divided countries in the world when it comes to wealth and education. Our focus is to educate, create opportunIties and raise awareness around marine plastic pollution. Together as a community we can make an impact.”
Frank Solomon – Parley South Africa
PARLEY AIR STATION, HOUT BAY
Parley South Africa and Sentinel Ocean Alliance collaborated to open the first permanent Parley Ocean School in Hout Bay in December 2020. The forty-foot educational container hosts daily sessions dedicated to deepening a physical, scientific and cultural understanding of the marine environment through engaging materials, activities and workshops developed with a network of educators.
“The Parley Ocean School in Cape Town has developed into an inspiring educational space where passionate individuals and partners work together to bring ocean education, ocean therapy and opportunities to the youth of South Africa’s coastal communities,” explains Frank Solomon of Parley South Africa and Sentinel Ocean Alliance.
Parley Ocean School takes an immersive approach to environmental education – with the goal of inspiring marine conservation and empowering its next generation of leaders. Our youth programs simplify complex marine threats, covering marine and coastal pollution, the preservation of natural resources, ocean safety, ocean careers, renewable energy and resources, upcycling, recycling and how to adopt a healthy, eco-conscious lifestyle. Empowering the young people taking part in our programs, the new space in South Africa aims to inspire an entire generation to become more conscious, healthy and responsible for their environment.
THE AIR WE BREATHE
Our ongoing video series dives deep into Parley's global mission to safeguard our planet's blue spaces – meeting the activists, scientists, Indigenous leaders, surfers, volunteers and marine biologists dedicating their lives to protecting the seas.
Our South Africa episode explores how our teams are tackling ocean threats both upstream (with river interception and communities engagement projects) and by educating and inspiring future generations to become Ocean Warriors at our dedicated Ocean School and Parley AIR Station in Hout Bay.
The Litterboom Project
To combat plastic pollution in South Africa’s rivers, The Litterboom Project is pioneering the use of locally built and managed boom systems to intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean. Through the use of both physical barriers and community outreach, the initiative aims to inspire and empower those living along these urban river systems.
“It’s clear the rising tide of single use plastic in our environment threatens ocean ecosystems, the health of the South African people and even our economy,” explains project founder Cameron Service. “It’s crucial we meet this crisis with action, ushering in better policy, better management and ultimately a material revolution.”
To date, the project has completed boom installations in rivers and Durban and Cape Town – with plans to create pilot project in Johannesburg this year. The team is also experimenting with image recognition software that will capture baseline data of how much rubbish is flowing down specific rivers.
OCEAN SENTINELS PROGRAM
The Ocean Sentinels are a select group of Parley Ocean School graduates who continue with us on a three-year pathway. Our aim is to expose these young learners to the field of ocean science and conservation and serve as a forerunner for future skills training. Our goal is to prepare them to pursue the marine sciences curriculum being rolled out in schools. How do we do this:
• Exposure to ocean based experiences
• Expanded Ocean School curriculum
• Guest speakers, workshops and excursions
• Training in public speaking skills where they can explore ocean activism
“I love being at the Parley Ocean School because we get the opportunity to learn so many awesome things like protecting our oceans. It has given us so much knowledge that we can return back home and schools to teach our friends, brothers, sisters and even our teachers.”
Delight Nyarusanga (age 12)
SUPPORT OUR WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA
Your support helps us tackle plastic pollution and other threats facing the oceans. All donations go directly to our global teams, helping to fund cleanups, education and infrastructure projects.
Thank You to ALL our Collaborators IN SOUTH AFRICA
Sentinel Ocean Alliance
The Litterboom Project
Oceano Reddentes
Waves for Change
Wildoceans
Pristine Earth Collective
WWF South Africa
Breathe Ocean Conservation
CSIR
PARLEY SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦
Chapman's Peak Drive
Main Beach, Hout Bay
Cape Town
Follow our SA projects on IG:
@sentineloceanalliance
@the_litterboom_project
The Parley Global Cleanup Network works to protect marine environments from plastic pollution and other threats. Through collaborative cleanups with local businesses and organizations, our teams intercept plastic waste from beaches, remote islands, rivers, mangroves and coastal communities. With cleanups in 30 countries so far and counting, the Network also works on local education, awareness campaigns and government engagement to drive change.
Each country team shares our vision for healthier oceans globally, and works locally to champion the Parley AIR Strategy in their nation. As of 2022, Parley has engaged over 720,000 volunteers globally, conducted more than 21,000 cleanup and education events and intercepted 1.1 million kg of plastic.