At SANCCOB Cape Town, construction of an Education and Visitor Centre is underway to offer a multi-purpose facility on the premises in Table View. We remain open and available to receive visitors. Guests may access the premises via the pedestrian gate at the parking area on Pentz Drive. The construction work is estimated to be carried out for a maximum of eight months and thus complete in July 2024.
This new facility will provide a larger space to accommodate more learners accessing SANCCOB’s environmental education programme, an improved visitor experience, and will aid SANCCOB to improve its self-sustainability to continue its conservation work to reverse the decline of southern African seabirds.
The new development was conceptualised from the need to upgrade SANCCOB’s current education room to accommodate larger groups of learners and have universally accessible ablution facilities, which is currently lacking. Other needs that led to this project launch include a necessary expansion to host training workshops and conferences, and to have a coffee shop and souvenir shop to generate a supplementary income.
If you wish to contribute to the building materials, appliances and furnishings of the new facility or make a cash donation, then please contact Nicole at marketing@sanccob.co.za and Jessica at jessica@sanccob.co.za to find out our needs at present. Please feel free to connect if you represent or recommend a corporate or other entity that may consider lending support.
The Education and Visitor Centre with new entrance will be constructed adjacent to the existing facilities and offer exceptional views of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Table Mountain, as well as a view of the resident African penguins and seabirds at SANCCOB Cape Town’s Home Pen.
Our Education Department reaches thousands of school learners annually through its formal education programme and on-site school visits from education institutions in Cape Town, and educates young people about marine conservation, recycling practices and how to be custodians of natural resources in their years ahead.
“Education is one of the pillars of SANCCOB’s vision to bring the concept of marine conservation into the lives of young people. The majority of children received at the centre via our education programme are Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) and learners from under-resourced communities, so the lessons and setting we provide is truly a life-changing experience. This newest building project was initially part of SANCCOB’s seabird hospital planning and with the hospital now opened since November 2018, we are excited to finally move forward,” says Sharnay Wagner, SANCCOB’s Education Supervisor.