From the rivers of Durban to the coastline of Cape Town, Parley’s teams and ambassadors work to educate, inspire, create opportunities and intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean
The Parley Global Cleanup Network works to protect marine environments from plastic pollution and other threats. Through collaborative cleanups with local businesses and organisations, our teams intercept plastic waste from beaches, remote islands, rivers, mangroves and coastal communities. With cleanups in 30 countries so far and counting, the Network also works on local education, awareness campaigns and government engagement to drive change.
Each country team shares our vision for healthier oceans globally, and works locally to champion the Parley AIR Strategy in their nation. As of 2021, Parley has worked with over 750 collaborators, engaged over 260,000 volunteers and conducted more than 4500 cleanups worldwide. With a focus on coastal operations, interception of plastic from rivers, education and community involvement, Parley South Africa works with a range of partners and creatives to help drive change.
“South Africa is one of the most divided countries in the world when it comes to wealth and education. Our focus is to educate, create opportunities and raise awareness around marine plastic pollution. Together as a community we can make an impact.”
– Frank Solomon, big wave surfer and founder of Parley South Africa and Sentinel Ocean Alliance
Featured Projects
Parley Ocean School, Hout Bay
Parley South Africa and Sentinel Ocean Alliance collaborated to open the first permanent Parley Ocean School in Hout Bay in December 2020. The forty-foot educational container will host sessions dedicated to deepening a physical, scientific and cultural understanding of the marine environment through engaging materials, activities and workshops developed with a network of educators.
”Opportunity in South Africa can be scarce,” explains Calah Couzens of Parley South Africa and Sentinel Ocean Alliance. “Through the new school, we aim to unlock the ocean economy for the youth that once feared our waters while empowering communities to become agents of change – protecting our oceans and our planet.”
Parley Ocean School takes an immersive approach to environmental education – with the goal of inspiring marine conservation and empowering its next generation of leaders. Our youth programs simplify complex marine threats, covering marine and coastal pollution, the preservation of natural resources, ocean safety, ocean careers, renewable energy and resources, upcycling, recycling and how to adopt a healthy, eco-conscious lifestyle. Empowering the young people taking part in our programs, the new space in South Africa aims to inspire an entire generation to become more conscious, healthy and responsible for their environment.
The Litterboom Project
To combat plastic pollution in South Africa’s rivers, The Litterboom Project is pioneering the use of locally built and managed boom systems to intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean. Through the use of both physical barriers and community outreach, the initiative aims to inspire and empower those living along these urban river systems.
”It’s clear the rising tide of single use plastic in our environment threatens ocean ecosystems, the health of the South African people and even our economy,” explains project founder Cameron Service. “It’s crucial we meet this crisis with action, ushering in better policy, better management and ultimately a material revolution.”
To date, the project has completed boom installations in rivers and Durban and Cape Town – with plans to create pilot project in Johannesburg this year. The team is also experimenting with image recognition software that will capture baseline data of how much rubbish is flowing down specific rivers.
“Our ultimate goal is to be able to swim in our rivers and use them as they were meant to be used, whilst enjoying clean and thriving oceans,” adds Cameron.
Street Surfers
Devland, Soweto, is an informal settlement in Johannesburg that hosts an underground community of ‘surfers’ championing activism hundreds of kilometers from the waves. Waste-pickers known as street surfers collect up to 90% of the recyclables from households in South Africa, all while struggling to make ends meet. In Street Surfers, we follow Parley’s Frank Solomon as he meets Mokete and Thabo, and explore an untold story of new friendships, shared experiences and common interest between individuals that are worlds apart.
Coastal cleanup tour
Following on from Street Surfers, Frank and the Eyeforce team set out on a journey to meet with NGOs, marine biologists, shark specialists and local experts who work tirelessly to defend the oceans and rivers of South Africa.
As Frank travels through the country, the diverse stories of individuals taking action and combining talent and passion with purpose come together to highlight an important truth: there is no one right way to protect the marine environment, redesign industries and change mindsets. Everyone and every story has a unique role to play in shaping the future of our planet.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR COLLABORATORS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Sentinel Ocean Alliance
The Litterboom Project
Oceano Reddentes
Waves for Change
Wildoceans
Pristine Earth Collective
WWF South Africa
Breathe Ocean Conservation
CSIR
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Learn more about the Parley Global Cleanup Network
