Green Learn 2 Earn

A Just Landscapes blog by Angela Chappel

The Green Learn 2 Earn project is a practical research programme focused on articulating and developing sustainable, tangible pathways for youth into the green economy. The project aims to develop and support viable occupationally directed learning pathways, from the ground up, for youth, in nine Green Learn 2 Earn pathways.

The Environmental Learning Research Centre, Rhodes University together with UNICEF, DUCT and GroundTruth are in the process of developing short, free online courses also called micro credentials, aimed at unemployed youth in South Africa and globally. The purpose of these micro credentials is to form learning pathways by providing informal environmentally focused skills development. The goal is that all of these courses will become QTCO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) accredited. These learning opportunities can be accessed via YOMA, [Youth Agency Marketplace], which is an ecosystem platform where many partners offer free online learning, skills development and earning opportunities. YOMA offers youth an opportunity to complete short courses and develop a digital CV which can be viewed to show their learning journey over time. Currently, the Green Learn 2 Earn project has two courses available online. Yoma directs participants to Atlas Academy where the courses are hosted which is also a platform geared at free skills development opportunities for youth.

Green Learn 2 Earn Agroecology Course

The Agroecology course is one of these learning journeys. It was developed in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and the course introduces young people to the principles and practices of agroecology. Agroecology is described in this course as agriculture + ecology; a way of farming that works with nature rather than against it.

The course is structured as a series of short, self-guided units that learners can complete at their own pace. Across approximately 10 – 20 hours of learning, participants move step-by-step through the foundations of sustainable food production. The first five units are about understanding agroecology, selecting a growing site, preparing to plant and seed production. The next three units guide learners on garden maintenance by describing natural fertilisation, water management, and integrated pest management. Unit 9 describes basic business skills linked to growing, processing and selling food. Unit 10 offers a variety of options for next steps of learning about agroecology and starting a food garden. Each unit builds practical knowledge while encouraging reflection and experimentation. After completing these 10 units participants receive a certificate which can be uploaded to YOMA to build an online CV.

Since the focus of the course is applied learning, there is a bonus unit 11 which encourages participants to try new practices that they have learnt about and document their experience of units 1 - 10 by creating a written reflection, poster or slide show. At its core, the course reminds us that learning to grow food is also learning to grow agency, confidence, and hope. This sentiment is coming through in many of the impact task assignments as participants reflect on their personal agroecology learning journeys and aspirations for the future.

Other Green Learn 2 Earn Courses

The River Water Monitoring course has been developed by Ground Truth and is structured in a similar way that promotes hands-on learning and experimenting. The Waste & Circular Economy; Greening in your Community; and Community Facilitation are other courses currently in development which all compliment one another in the goal of upskilling unemployed youth in a fun and engaging manner. All of the Green Learn 2 Earn courses are unique because of their accessibility. Concepts are explained in clear, straightforward language and brought to life through images and videos.

Ready to Get Started? Here's How

Signing up is simple and completely free. Start by creating a profile on YOMA with your name, email address and a password. Once you've clicked the verification link sent to your inbox, your account is active and ready to use.

From there, click on Opportunities and search for Green Learn2Earn. You'll see the Agroecology and River Water Monitoring courses listed, each with a short description. Open the one you're interested in and click "Go to opportunity" to be taken through to the Atlas Academy platform, where the actual learning happens.

On Atlas, sign up with your name, email address and a password, then activate your account. Once you're in, head to Our Courses, select Learn2Earn, and choose Agroecology or River Water Monitoring to begin. Work through the units in order, watching the videos, reading through the materials and completing the quizzes as you go.

Once all the units are complete, you'll receive a certificate that's yours to keep for your own records. And if you registered on YOMA first, that certificate is automatically added to your YOMA profile, building towards your digital CV and showing the world the skills you've grown along the way.