Prince of wales meets future leaders in South Africa for Earthshot Awards

The Prince of Wales has started a four-day visit to Cape Town, South Africa, focused on protecting nature and fighting climate change. He arrived on Monday morning on a regular flight. His first stop was at an event for the Earthshot Prize, a project he created to help people find solutions to big environmental problems.

At this event, the Prince, 42, met with young people from across Africa and Southeast Asia. They gathered on a rooftop in the center of Cape Town to share ideas and talk about ways to help the planet. The 120 young people came from many different places as part of the Earthshot youth program. They were chosen because they care deeply about the environment.

Wearing Eco-Friendly Clothes

During his visit, the Prince is making sure to wear clothing made from sustainable materials. On Monday, he wore a shirt from a brand called Ecoalf, which creates clothes entirely from recycled items. The brand, started in 2009, focuses on using materials that are better for the planet.

Kensington Palace, where the Prince lives in the UK, shared that he chose this clothing to show support for brands that help reduce waste and protect nature. The Prince hopes this will encourage others, especially young people, to make earth-friendly choices too.

Inspiring Young Environmental Leaders

The young people attending the event were chosen from a group of 1,800 applicants across 50 African countries. Each person, aged 18 to 35, was selected for their efforts to make a positive change in their communities.

The Prince’s last trip to Africa was in 2018, when he visited Namibia to learn about protecting rhinos. This visit made him want to do more, and he soon started the Earthshot Prize, which is now one of the biggest awards for finding ways to protect the environment.

This year, the Earthshot awards ceremony is expected to be the biggest so far. The Prince hopes to inspire even more young people across Africa to take action on climate issues. Hannah Jones, who leads the Earthshot Prize, said this year’s focus is on Generation Z, or people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, who are very involved in fighting climate change.

Exciting “Green Carpet” Event and Live Show

On Wednesday, there will be a “green carpet” event just before the awards ceremony. It will highlight eco-friendly fashion and focus on living in ways that are kind to the planet. Nigerian TV host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and South African rapper Moozlie will host the event, and millions of viewers are expected to tune in.

The event will also feature music from Nigerian singer Davido and South African DJ Uncle Waffles, both popular with young fans. The show will celebrate nature-friendly choices and show how everyone can help protect the earth.

Programs for Younger Children

The Earthshot Prize is also launching programs this week for younger children, as young as five years old. Recently, a contest on a British kids’ show called Blue Peter invited kids aged five to 15 to submit their own ideas to protect the planet. The goal is to inspire even the youngest kids to think about the environment.

Meeting with South African Leaders

On Tuesday, the Prince will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders from both the UK and South Africa. This meeting is an important step in strengthening the relationship between the two countries and will follow President Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the UK.

Honoring Wildlife Rangers

Later this week, the Prince will announce a welfare program to help over 10,000 wildlife rangers who protect animals across Africa. This initiative is dedicated to Anton Mzimba, a South African ranger who was tragically killed last year. 

Mzimba had shared with the Prince how dangerous it is to protect animals from poachers. The Prince was deeply affected by Mzimba’s death and even made a personal donation to support his family.

Now, he wants to help other rangers who risk their lives to keep animals safe from illegal hunting.