On Tuesday, 11th June, the African Black Duck (ABD) Association hosted an event with Andante Primary School to promote climate change awareness and local river conservation. ​ The ABD, a group of Ladysmith residents, focuses on addressing sewer spills, controlling invasive plants, and preventing illegal dumping in the Cochrane Spruit. ​ The event, part of ABD’s awareness-raising efforts, involved 37 learners (ages 9-14) and 4 educators. ​

The PACDR training, conducted by the Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) in Pietermaritzburg, aimed to empower small-scale farmers from peri-urban areas and privately owned commercial farms within the uMgungundlovu District to assess and respond to climate and disaster risks. ​ This initiative was part of the Adaptation Network’s three-year Civil Society Organisation Skills Enhancement and Excellence Development (CSO Seed) project, funded by the Government of Flanders through SANBI.