At a Stellenbosch University Graduation Ceremony that took place on Wednesday 7 December at 17h30, 36 BPhil students, 6 Mphil students and 1 Phd student formally graduated. They were amongst the nearly 700 students who graduated from the Faculty of Economic and Management Science on that day. But they were noticed by all because they clapped, shouted and whistled as each one walked up to the stage to be capped by the Chancellor, Johan Rupert. The Masters and Phd students have courageously explored new and challenging questions in the wider sustainability field.

Learning for Sustainability, a section 21 company, operating as a Further Education and Training (FET) college, has been set up by the Sustainability Institute. It has emerged out of the SI's Sustainable Neighbourhood Programme that was funded by the National Department of Human Settlements. This is an ambitious, three year, country-wide capacity development project, which aimed to operationalise South Africa’s National Housing policy Breaking New Ground (BNG), with a focus on Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements.

The full moon, huge bonfire and Lynedoch EcoVillage welcomed last night the first group of 11 Umzi Wethu students who arrived to live in our Farmhouse for the next year. A project in partnership with the Wilderness Foundation focusing on an intensive learning programme involving employment on successful completion of accredited hospitality training, 4 five-day nature trails, ongoing mentorship and participation in living sustainably as well as internship as chefs at Spier, we celebrated beginning this journey with our new arrivals. Courageous and full of enthusiasm, the participants spoke to us of their dreams for success...talented, from very poor homes without possibility for further education, they were selected from 45 applicants through a rigorous interviewing process - including a 3 day hike on Table Mountain!