On 28 August 2023 a group of science-minded Grade 10 and Grade 11 girls from the Manzomthombo Secondary School, in Blue Downs, visited the Iimbovane Project.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Stellenbosch Mountain, the girls undertook fieldwork in which they compared the species richness and presence of invasive alien species in two plots – one of which was in a pine plantation, the other being in a fynbos area.

When calculating the number of plant species they recorded, the girls found the species richness and vegetation cover in the pine plantation plot to be less compared to that of the plot in the fynbos.

After a fulfilling day in the forest, the girls took a tour of the Stellenbosch University library where they were exposed to the world of higher education and could see where students spend most of their day studying.

The day not only encouraged young girls to explore the world of biodiversity but also provided them with a hands-on experience that left a permanent mark on their educational journeys.​