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Pearly Beach
Western Cape
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Small Hands, Big Impact
Gloved hands sifted through reeds, laughter carried across the sand, and bright refuse bags slowly filled as children worked side by side with quiet determination. On Saturday 7 February 2026, the Kleinmond wetlands became a living classroom as about 50 members of the Kleinmond Strandlopers Eco-Youth Club marked World Wetlands Day not with speeches or ceremonies, but with action.
They collected plastic, paper, metal and cigarette butts — the small, overlooked debris that silently threatens ecosystems where freshwater meets sea. The waste they gathered was later separated and weighed by the local church’s Eko Bediening group, turning a morning of effort into tangible results.
From family outing to community force
Nearly a decade ago, the Strandlopers began as a simple family activity. Today, it has grown into a structured youth environmental initiative and registered NPO that nurtures environmental awareness alongside leadership skills.
Chairperson Margie Samuels recalls those early days.
“The Strandlopers club first consisted of just family members as I said and then we decided we would now make a club out of it, we would register it and become an NPO and so that we can accommodate more children and offer more for the children. And this is how we decided to create the beach walkers eco club and the members who have now grown so beautifully.”
Their World Wetlands Day focus was deliberate. Standing beside the waterway that links wetland to ocean, Samuels explained: “Today we are cleaning the wetland because as you can see for yourself pollution is a big headache. The children are here today to pick up every piece of paper and piece of plastic and metal and cigarette butts because you can see that the wetland flows into the sea. and if you don’t pick it up here then it will go into the sea and the sea animals will be affected so we must teach the children now how important it is to keep our environment clean and tidy.”
Monthly activities keep that lesson alive. Samuels describes a programme that blends conservation with discovery and helps keep children occupied.
“Once a month we have a clean up day with the Ecostap club group we do it in different places and there is also what we do in sales with talks or we walk in the fynbos or, if the weather permits, we walk to Palmiet or we go to beautiful mountains and go see our birds and we also do Betty’s Bay at the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens.”
Turning clean-ups into data and knowledge
Vice-chairperson Ebraime Hull, who is involved through SANBI, says the children are taught to observe scientifically as they work. Showing the list of illustrated items, he explained: “Any item that they get , they tick off it is recyclable plastic or glass pieces or if it not recyclable they will tick off all the plastic bags, all the bottles, how much they have, they will have one stripe, packets of empty chips and straws, all the stuff we find on the beaches.”
The wetland cleanup formed part of a broader collaboration effort. “This Saturday is basically we tried to work with the other organisation like Eco Conservation Group in Kleinmond who are more mature people and actually try to accommodate the kids – especially when its not exams. Today is national clean up day for International Wetlands Day.”
He hopes the idea spreads. “We are keen to see such clubs in other towns in the Overberg”
Backed by biodiversity educators
The initiative is strengthened through partnerships with environmental educators and institutions. Annalee Roberts, a SANBI environmental education officer, noted that the organisation works with schools throughout the Overberg, supporting children to learn about the environment and their role in it.
Cathleen Floris, Senior Administration Clerk at SANBI, explains why youth-centred environmental work matters. “As part of SANBI’s mandate is to Educate and Preserve natural biodiversity, through our Education Department based in all different gardens in South Africa. As the Strandlopers Eco Youth Club, we are privileged enough to have staff that work at the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in our community that work with the local schools, that we are able to tap into their activities.”
She emphasises the long-term value of starting young.
“It is of paramount importance that the youth group is involved. To be taught from young age is better. It will or create opportunity channels for the youth, career possibilities. It also creates leader and conservation ambassadors for our town.”
And, she adds simply: “To preserve our natural Heritage for others.”
Collaboration, says Floris, is key to impact.
“It is very important for collaboration between NPO’s and Government Organisations, like SANBI. Local communities don’t have always the resources to make big impacts. Organisations like SANBI can create the natural differences, with their trained staff skills in it.”
Creativity meets conservation
The Strandlopers’ work extends beyond clean-ups. Last year, they partnered with GrandMaster Ready D and Frazer Georgio Barry to produce a song, Ons Is Die Kinders Van Kleinmond, through the community organisation G-CAP. The project used hip-hop, music and creative expression to build identity, confidence and community among young participants — transforming environmental pride into cultural voice.
A small town, a global lesson
World Wetlands Day is observed internationally, but in Kleinmond it looks like children wading through reeds, comparing notes on recyclables, and learning that their actions ripple outward — from wetland to ocean, from childhood to future.
And when the work was done, the mood shifted from focused to festive. The children played games, laughed together and simply enjoyed being outdoors before each received a well-earned hotdog and cooldrink for the journey home — a small celebration after a morning of caring for the place they call home.
Learning safety as well as stewardship
Environmental care is only part of the Strandlopers’ mission. In a coastal town where the sea is both playground and risk, the group is keen to partner with organisations to help spread water awareness and safety.
Samuels says drownings in the area are a major concern. “We want to raise awareness so that the children can be well educated about how to protect themselves if they get into trouble at the sea and if there are no adults around and there is only a group of children – what to do – why can’t they walk to the sea alone – those kinds of programs will benefit us and other great programs always come up if there are more people who are interested in learning more about nature for the children.”
In a world searching for environmental solutions, Kleinmond’s young Strandlopers offer a simple reminder: change often begins with a bag, a pair of hands, and someone who teaches you why it matters.
