Zoë Prinsloo, a local environmental activist and founder of the non-profit Save a Fishie, will represent South Africa at the international Helen Storrow Seminar in Switzerland this month.
Also read: Zoë Prinsloo aims for world record of longest beach clean-up this weekend
The Helen Storrow Seminar, which takes place from 12 to 19 March, is a leadership programme for youth focusing on environmentally sustainable projects for their communities. Helen Storrow is a prominent women’s rights advocate and pioneer in the Guiding and Scouting movement.
Prinsloo has been a part of Girl Guides – one of the country’s largest female volunteer organisations – since the age of 10.
‘With the encouragement and endorsement of the Regional Commissioner of Cape West Girl Guides, Melinda Lottering, I applied because I felt it was right up my alley,’ she told News24.
‘This is what I am all about. I was so excited to apply, and then when I got chosen, it was amazing. I am truly blessed.’
Girl Guides is a youth movement empowering girls and women to reach their full potential and become responsible citizens. The programme focuses on leadership, first aid, safety, friendship, environmental conservation, and outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Girls earn badges for completing different clauses and activities, recognising their achievements and skills.
‘In Girl Guides, we have an amazing patrol system and network of units that I can share my knowledge with,’ says Prinsloo.
‘I hope to create a programme or course that I can teach our girls or other adult leaders who, in turn, can share it with their girls. Through this network, we can share this knowledge throughout South Africa and with various communities.’
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Over the years, Prinsloo’s environmental efforts achieved local and global recognition. Last year, Cape Town’s Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis honoured her contributions to society, alongside the Volunteer Wildfire Services, Athol Williams, Langa’s Busy Bees Rugby Club, and the late Hank Lith.
She operates Save a Fishie primarily in the Milnerton Lagoon Beach area, aiming to spread awareness about marine conservation and the threats of plastic pollution. She also actively organises beach clean-ups through Save a Fishie.
‘When I started, it was just myself and sometimes my mom going and cleaning the beach. When I officially started Save a Fishie, I created a Facebook page and started advertising my cleanups and doing them more regularly. I have also run many Earth Day cleanups and projects for Girl Guides.’
Thanks to this initiative, Prinsloo organised more than 260 beach clean-ups, visited more than 111 beaches across South Africa and collected more than 20 tonnes of litter.
‘I want to educate our youth on the repercussions of what this litter can do. That throwing down a plastic straw or packet in their playground at school can cause the death of a turtle in the ocean. Litter and pollution are huge problems that I am incredibly passionate about.’
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Picture: Save a fishie / Facebook
