By Grace Ndlovu
River Rescue is a community-driven environmental initiative in Makhanda, rooted in the belief in a shared humanity. Dr. Jessica Cockburn, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网, coordinates the project which has been pivotal in linking academic learning with meaningful action - addressing environmental challenges and community empowerment.
River Rescue in Makhanda is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization founded by Helen Holleman in early 2020. Its vision is to restore the connection between people and rivers – to return these vital water systems to a condition where they are clean, safe, and beneficial to surrounding communities.
"Our activities primarily involve river clean-ups, typically organized once a month," she explained. "We also aim to act as a platform that supports and enables community members who wish to organize their own river clean-ups and environmental initiatives. Dr. Cockburn acknowledged the issue's complexity when asked to reflect on the current state of Makhanda’s river systems compared to 2020.
"In many ways, the condition of the rivers remains unchanged- they continue to suffer from solid waste pollution and sewage contamination. However, in certain key areas, we have observed notable progress,” she stated.
A site along Evans Road where a formerly polluted riverbank and illegal dumping ground has now been revitalised into a clean, grassy area used as a children’s playground. “This success was achieved through sustained collaboration between River Rescue and local residents, particularly through the leadership of Elizabeth Davies. It’s a small area relative to the broader river system, but the change there has been significant and inspiring,” she said.
Children have played a role in the success of River Rescue, showing consistency and enthusiasm. “They are often our most reliable participants. Their involvement has fostered a sense of responsibility and agency- many now encourage adults not to litter, actively holding their communities accountable,” she noted. She believes this shift signals a promising future. “These children will not grow up indifferent to their environment. They are already effecting change, demonstrating that we do not need to wait for future generations to see impact- it is happening now,” she stated.
Dr Cockburn's academic and personal journey is deeply rooted in her upbringing in KwaZulu-Natal, where she was raised by a farmer and a teacher. Their influence shaped her strong commitment to social and environmental justice.
"I am very interested in how we can use academia and science to address the most pressing societal issues," she stated. "While I work within the academic sphere, I believe strongly in transcending the boundaries between academia and society to conduct meaningful and impactful work within communities.
This belief ultimately led Dr. Cockburn to join River Rescue as a volunteer in 2020. What began as a grassroots effort- collecting litter from local riverbanks on Saturdays has since evolved into a formalised partnership between River Rescue and Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网. Dr. Cockburn now facilitates a service- learning module within the university’s Honours in Environmental Science program.