Empowering female students for climate change intervention: The case of University of KwaZulu-Natal ENACTUS

abstract

Female student activists, members of an organisation called ENACTUS, are on the move for community awareness and action on climate change. ENACTUS, an international non-profit student organisation, present in over 1 600 universities, works with students, faculty advisors and business leaders, to harness the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world for communities. Student teams develop outreach projects in accordance with the triple bottom line – “P” for Planet, People and Profit and access resources to improve the quality of life and standard of living of people in need. The research captures the reflections of six female students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Westville, Edgewood and Pietermaritzburg campuses in South Africa who were involved in ENACTUS climate change initiatives in Umlazi, Wentworth and Umkhumbane where community partnerships were developed for climate change mitigation. In Ukhumbane, an informal settlement, students initiated a process with unemployed women to develop a recycling cooperative and to expand sustainable livelihoods from recycling. In Wentworth, a community experiencing environmental degradation and pollution in South Durban, students led a process to facilitate a programme of tree planting by school learners to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and in nearby Umlazi, a walk was held to mobilise the community around the problems of climate change. The Focus uses a theoretical framework of reflective empowerment practice to understand student narratives on perceptions of the three projects. Students' narratives reveal the interface between the students' awareness of the meanings of climate change, its mediation through community exposure and the importance of gender equality and women's activism in climate change mitigation.

keywords:

• ENACTUS
• entrepreneurial action
• reflective empowerment
• climate change mitigation

Acknowledgment

I want to recognise the ENACTUS women students for their reflective narratives and the time shared during the interview and for the reports read. It was a first writing experience for you and not your last. Thank you for sharing your learning: Enhle Kheswa; Nandisa Ngubelanga; Kgomotso Noko; Nqobile Mhlaba; Silindile Mncube and Amanda Jali.

Notes

1. COP18 Gender Decision - to give meaning to gender balance in all negotiations and in representation of women and men to ensure gender equality at all levels.

2. Earthlife Africa and Greenpeace Africa.

3. National champion teams advance to the ENACTUS World Cup to represent their country at an international competition which is hosted in different countries: 2012 in United States of America; 2013 in Mexico and 2014 in United Kingdom. The event is sponsored by many companies that are listed as sponsors.

4. The pollution problems experienced in South Durban are documented on the South Durban Environmental Alliance website: http://www.h-net.org/∼esati/sdcea/environmentalproblems.html

5. For example following the COP17-CMP7 the Ethekweni Municipality has launched the Community-Ecosystem Based Adaptation (CEBA) greening programme see: http://www.gbcsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ICLEI-Ethekweni-Durban-Muncipalitys-climate-protection-program-April-2012.pdf

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Angela James

ANGELA JAMES is a senior lecturer in the School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal. She engages undergraduate and postgraduate students in Science Education – discipline content and research. Her pedagogy is informed by phronesis – problem-solving in authentic contexts where meaning is created and competence developed. Her research interests are: research and service-learning for undergraduate students, inquiry-based teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase, professional development of teachers, environmental education and science and culture. Email: [email protected]