Kaliope Geldenhuys BA. PGDip (Sustainable Development) LLB
Kali has a BA in Development and Environment, which she obtained at Stellenbosch University. She also has a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Development, which she obtained at the Sustainability Institute at Stellenbosch University. She became a GreenMatter fellow in 2017. In her honours year, she was the recipient of two bursaries: the HB Thom Bursary and the GreenMatter Postgraduate Award.
Returning home to Durban, Kali worked at the Wildlife Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) in 2018-2019 as a part-time guide at the Treasure Beach Education Centre. She taught young people, from Grade One to University-level, the significance of the rocky shores and also the importance of sustainability. She also worked as WESSA KZN Youth Coordinator during this same period. She also has experience as a Carbon Footprint Analyst. Through these avenues, she realised that there is a need for more environmental lawyers who protect people’s Constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing. She now has an LLB degree, which she obtained at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Kali’s diverse studies exemplify her curiosity about the intersection of humans with the environment. She believes the two are inextricably linked and that an anthropocentric outlook on the world needs to shift to a more sustainable holistic approach. Her passion is pursuing projects and work that remedy the anthropocentric capitalist approach to different issues. She is an avid reader, lover of learning and enjoys meeting with friends and peers for dinners or walks in her spare time.