Gauteng and Limpopo Schools Honoured at Northern Region Sustainable Schools Rewards Ceremony
Teacher Representatives from over 42 schools around Gauteng and Limpopo gathered in the Waterberg this week for an overnight Sustainable Schools Rewards Ceremony, celebrating outstanding environmental action and recognising schools now in the running for national honours.
The ceremony was hosted from 6–7 February at Lapalala Wilderness School in Limpopo, and recognised schools and teachers for their outstanding commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) during the 2025 school year. Part of Nature Connect’s national Sustainable Schools Rewards roadshow, the Northern Region event was co-hosted with Lapalala Wilderness School, a long-standing programme partner supporting schools across Limpopo.
The two-day gathering combined an awards celebration with professional development, peer learning, and immersive outdoor experiences. Teachers participated in workshops, collaborative reflection, and game drives on the Lapalala reserve, highlighting how local environments can be used as powerful teaching and learning spaces.
A key feature of this year’s agenda was a hands-on, story-based learning activity utilising BirdLife South Africa’s book: Run Until You Can Fly. The activity explored wetlands and river systems as a local learning lens, linking biodiversity, water, climate resilience, and flooding – issues of particular relevance in both Limpopo and Gauteng. Teachers were guided through a practical learning journey designed to translate classroom learning into realistic, low-cost action projects at school level.
Recognising Sustainability Leadership in Gauteng and Limpopo
Schools were recognised across multiple Sustainable Schools focus areas, including biodiversity, water, health, energy, waste, and community engagement.
Regional Focus Area Award Winners included:
- Biodiversity Network – Waterberg Academy
- Health & Well-being – Langalibalele Secondary School
- Energy & Climate Action – Selcourt Primary School
- Water & Sanitation – Monala Primary School
- Production, Consumption & Waste – Zamani Primary School
- Community & Social Responsibility – De La Salle Holy Cross College
Special Regional Recognition: Most Sustainable School
Monala Primary School was named Most Sustainable School (Northern Region), recognised for consistent, whole-school sustainability action across multiple focus areas. As the Northern Region winner, Monala Primary School now advances into contention for the national title of Most Sustainable School in South Africa, to be announced at the final stage of the Sustainable Schools Rewards programme.
Additional special awards recognised schools and educators for progress, leadership, and learner engagement, including Most Improved School, Best Progress by a New School, Outstanding Eco-Club, Most Connected to Nature, and Most Dedicated Teachers. Across the region, 4 schools achieved 3 Sustainability Stars, 20 achieved 2 Stars, 25 achieved 1 Star, and 18 schools participated without earning Stars, reflecting diverse starting points and meaningful engagement.
Partnerships Supporting Local Impact
“This ceremony is about more than awards,” said Jocelyn Anderson, Programme Manager for Nature Connect’s Sustainable Schools Programme. “It’s about recognising steady progress, celebrating teachers who persist despite challenges, and strengthening the local partnerships that make this work possible. Hosting this event with Lapalala Wilderness School shows what can be achieved when organisations collaborate to support schools, particularly in rural contexts.”
