A powerful environmental article by 13-year-old Alexandra de Roo from Pinelands High School has won first prize in the international Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) competition, a global youth journalism programme spanning more than 30 countries.
YRE is a global programme that challenges youth to engage with environmental issues in their communities through investigative journalism and storytelling.
Participants choose topics relevant to their environment, research them in depth, and produce reports in the form of articles, photos or videos. The programme helps build critical thinking, research, media and communication skills, while fostering global citizenship and sustainable thinking.
De Roo’s winning piece, “The regrowth after a fire on Rondebosch Common”, explores the devastating impact of climate change and alien invasive species on Cape Town’s urban ecosystems, while celebrating community-led restoration efforts after local fires.
The article was praised for its insight and relevance, as well as its strong environmental message.
“Allowing indigenous species to thrive on Rondebosch Common helps the ecosystem to grow and make it a beautiful space for all organisms to flourish, including humans,” Alexandra wrote, describing how residents step in to replant endemic species and remove invasive ones after seasonal wildfires.
The Young Reporters for the Environment programme, coordinated in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), empowers youth aged 11 to 25 to investigate environmental issues and report on them using journalistic methods. The initiative forms part of the Foundation for Environmental Education’s global network, with the goal of fostering environmental stewardship and media literacy in young people.
Since its local launch in 2018, the YRE programme has supported hundreds of learners in using photography, video and writing to raise awareness and spark action around pressing environmental concerns.
Cindy-Lee Cloete, CEO of Wessa and founder of YRE South Africa, celebrated De Roo’s award as a watershed moment for youth environmental journalism on the continent.
“I had tears in my eyes knowing that a dream of mine has come true and that we can showcase African youth doing great environmental work,” Cloete said. “Since 2018, I’ve dreamed about a Wessa Young Reporter getting first prize in the international YRE competition. That day is here.”
She credited the ongoing work of Wessa’s Education and Sustainability team, including Kelly Grace Alcock, for nurturing a new generation of environmentally conscious storytellers.
De Roo’s success not only puts South Africa on the global map for youth environmental advocacy , it also highlights the importance of empowering young voices to report on local climate realities.
