Adventure and expeditions will act as a catalyst to promote environmental awareness amongst CPUT students.

Next month, the Department of Student Affairs along with the organisation Explore4Knowledge, will launch the Water Warriors, a student body that will advocate understanding and concern for South Africa’s water resources.

Student Development Officer Annette Grobler says the group’s activities will be adventure-based and see them work closely with the Sports Management Department, the Human Performance Laboratory and Explore4Knowledge, an organisation run by CPUT alumnus John Lucas.

Explore4knowledge promotes scientific methodology in an environmental education setting, using adventure, says Lucas.

“Our partnership is aimed at developing environmental awareness through outdoor activities and capacity building with all students. This will involve camps, research based outings and various ad hoc activities,” he says

The first adventure will take place from 13 to 16 March at the Beverlac camping site in the Southern Cedeberg area, were students will do sampling with scientists and interact with members of the community residing on the river banks.

Students that form part of the Water Warriors will also stand the chance to become one of only 23 selected students to embark on an expedition of a life-time, when they will have the opportunity to row one of South Africa’s rivers for 16 days, non-stop during their September vacation.

Any registered student from any CPUT campus can apply to form part of the Water Warrior Programme as long as they can swim, are fit and have a passion for their environment.

Interested students can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and visit www.explore4knowledge.com for more information

More information about the Water Warriors programme

Water Warriors Application form

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT students explored their creative side while promoting recycling and an environmental awareness during the recent Green Campus Initiative Fashion Show.

Students were involved in all aspects of the fashion show including the design, modeling, styling and music and lighting. The brief was for students to create a fashion look made entirely out of recycled materials and the results were breathtaking.

Co-ordinator of the event Melani-Ann Hara says she is immensely proud of the 14 designers and 28 models who participated in the show, most of whom are students in faculties not connected to fashion design.

“It’s been quite a while since we have been able to socialize in this way and this was an ideal opportunity for students to connect and learn about how they can reduce, re-use and recycle.

Nursing student Ferial Galant, 18, says she tried to achieve a classy streetwear look that incorporated recycled material but was still edgy and fashionable.

“I used household items that could be recycled like bottles and plastic bags and it took me four days to complete my look,” she says.

Ferial also encouraged a good friend Wesley Hendricks to model her look and says she was grateful to him for helping her refine and present the look successfully.

Environmental Management student Wakuenda Alex, 25, says he saw the callout for designers and was immediately interested because of the green fashion element.

“I had so much fun exploring fashion in this way, me and my friends spent days on campus coming up with ideas and the type of materials that could be used,” he says.

“It was really fun to participate in-person and interact with people.”

Wesley Hendricks was crowned Mr Green Campus Initiative with first place awarded to Okuhle Lingani.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.