Siyanda Sopangisa with club members and tourists at the wetland.

The Khayelistha Canoe Club’s decades-long efforts were nearly capsized when the wetlands became overgrown by hyacinths.

Last year the invasive plant clogged the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park, located in the heart of Town Two and Makhaza, making it impossible for the club to clean up plastic waste and to teach township children how to swim and canoe, as they had been doing since they founded the club in 2013.

But Siyanda has found a way to turn the problem into a resource in collaboration with dooiy, an online network that helps poorer communities to overcome obstacles using simple do-it-yourself ideas and upcycling.

With dooiy’s help the club harvested the water weed and turned into fertiliser using a kiln.

The club, which is made up of 15 volunteers, is now developing a tourist arm to make it sustainable.

“Tourists can join locals from Khayelitsha in harvesting water hyacinths, learn how biochar is produced, and witness its use in the gardens of local initiatives. Furthermore, the women in our canoe club create various woven products from water hyacinths, such as baskets and mats, which will also contribute to income generation,” said Siyanda.

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Club teaches kids how to canoe in wetlands