“90 by 2030 means taking action today for a better tomorrow”

 — Hin Wah Li

So I’ve been in this position for a while now (almost a month!!). I have learned a lot about Project 90 just by reading! I have been in fact, a reading fool. I have been checking out P90’s (Project 90 by 2030) annual reports, Facebook, Twitter account, Vimeo videos, blog, newsletter and fact sheets.

I have also been looking at their cool online tools that help both individuals and companies measure energy efficiency including: house tools and office tools on the Project 90 website.

So how can you use these wonderful tools you ask?

Check out House Tools at: http://housetool.90×2030.org.za/

Also a fun greenie site with inspirational sayings and pretty pictures: http://www.peachygreen.com/going-green/inspiring-quotes-environment

“Green is the new swag”- A Project 90 club youth member

P90 *Two Oceans Wind Turbine

So what happens when you bring high school students together from around the city of Cape Town to the Two Oceans Aquarium?

Well….conversation, laughter and hopefully the beginning of a few new friendships.

This weekend work took me to the Two Oceans Aquarium, where Project 90 by 2030 (referred to as Project 90 from here on), invited students to gather, listen, and explore green energy for an short half-day Club Conference.

Well, so first what’s a club, right?

Project 90 by 2030 has been forming clubs in schools and organization since 2008, whereas it assists students and adults in creating carbon footprint reduction projects. This weekend, Project 90 gathered around 40 students from five local high schools and took the students to the aquarium where they had a chance to not only learn more about an array of Project 90 renewable projects happening all across the city (including the aquarium), but also gave the students a chance to look behind the scenes of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.

Settled in one of the premier aquarium conference rooms students discussed the projects they are conducting at their school, such as recycling programs. They also learned more about Project 90’s phase one projects which included creation of a solar system for a rural school, a hydro-system, solar-golf carts, fences and biogas digester at the Tygerberg Zoo.

It was great to see the collection of excited faces from students across Cape Town. The students were not only enthusiastic about getting the chance to see the aquarium par gratis, they were also eager to share and discuss the range of projects they had initiated at their individual schools with other students. There was a buzz in the room as the day began and as Daniel (the club coordinator) began to talk about the environment and people’s crucial part in it.

The great walking fish!

After Daniel wrapped up about Project 90 and the various renewable projects we are putting into action around the city, students were given a guided tour around and behind the scenes for the aquarium and were also left with free time to explore on their own. Which is awesome, when you realize that the Two Oceans Aqaurium holds over 3000 living sea animals, including sharks, stingrays, turtles, penguins, and a fish with legs (which I found the most enthralling! OMG it walks!!).

After the tour of the aquarium, the students, Project 90 staff, and others were once again pulled into the Aquarium conference room for the second half of the event. Which started with three students battling for prizes using only their sharp memories to recall facts about a range of renewable energy projects. Then we were all taken outside, where we learned more about the green initiatives that happened on site. In specific, Robert (a Project 90 engineer) gave us a detailed talk about the vertical wind turbines and solar panels at the Two Oceans Aquarium, which Project 90 helped put into place.

In all the day was a full and happy one that reminded me how important it the task is of involving youth in building their world. And I too was a happy camper since I got to explore the great Cape Town Aquarium with great people for a great cause.

For more news showing how “the kids are allright” check out: http://philanthropy.com/article/75-of-Young-Adults-Gave-to/132217/

And to check out more on how NGO’s are connecting to possible volunteers and more, check out: http://themillennialimpact.com/millennial-report/key-findings/

“We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it. We must learn to cooperate in its processes, and to yield to its limits.”

 — Wendell Berry, Recollected Essays

It’s been a wonderful first week in Cape Town, South Africa. Already I have hiked mountains, crawled through caves, been to two Braais (BBQ South African style) and to the beach a couple times. And the cherry on the top, I will be working with an awesome NGO called Project 90 by 2030 throughout the summer.

Project 90 by 2030, is working to re-set the way South Africans and Southern Africans live, by daring people to change how they use energy, what they consider waste, and what they want their futures to look like. It does this by striving to address climate change and energy usage (for the coal dependent South Africa) through research, advocacy/ awareness campaigns, and renewable energy projects.

The staff, a small and lively one, is made of up my bosses Glen and Natalie, as well as Olivia, Hin Wah, Daniel, Candace, Steven, Robert and the director Brenda. There is also a wider network of staff and partners as well. More coming soon! And photos …

**  I plan to start of each of my new posts with a inspirational or thoughtful quote. If you have any suggestions, please send them to me!!

Well, I guess I should introduce myself before I jump into the thick of things!

I am Alexis Gabriel. I am a second year dual degree student with a concentration in both Business (marketing/communications) and International Environmental Policy (sustainable development). These two goals have taken me across the world, and close to Antarctica straight into the winter of South Africa for the summer. Over the next couple of weeks (until late August), I will be neck deep in green living on the south side of the equator.

One step down the rabbit hole…. let’s see where this green trail leads!