Romario Valentine, 14, is determined to make a change.
Image: Supplied
Meet the teenager who is determined to fulfill his quest and protect the seabirds of the Western Cape.
Romario Valentine, 14, originally from Durban, is an environmental trailblazer and ornithophile, a self-proclaimed earth guardian who hopes to bring a change in this crazy world.
Valentine, who also authored a book titled Protect Our Planet - Take Action With Romario, started his quest when he was only six years old, playing the role of an orca (killer whale) in his Grade R school production at Reddam House in Umhlanga, Durban.
According to his mother, Delsha Moodley, after extensive research, he discovered the impact pollutants were having on turtles, albatrosses, penguins, and whales.
Art made by the young teenager.
Image: Supplied
“Since 2020, he has supported conservation efforts for the Umgeni River Bird Sanctuary in Durban; Birds of Eden in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, Segera in Kenya, with the Zeitz Foundation, and BirdLife South Africa’s Mouse-Free Marion Project.
“He is an ambassador for two organisations: Ocean Sole, an upcycling organisation that transforms discarded flip flops found on the beaches in Kenya into colourful wildlife animals, and Youth for Lions South Africa, which campaigns for the protection of lions and to be kept in the wild,” Moodley said.
The now Grade 9 learner from Penryn College in Mpumalanga has been the recipient of numerous awards locally and internationally, such as the BirdLife South Africa Owlet Award, RHU Madiba Award, WESSA Youth Award, and the Pick 'n Pay Hero Award. The Marine Conservation Society UK Young Optimist of the Year, and the Action for Nature Eco-Hero Award in the US.
This year, as a wilderness warrior, he received phase one certification as a SANParks Junior Honorary Ranger in the Lowveld, allowing him to continue his calling to take care of nature and conserve wildlife, protecting South Africa’s natural heritage.
Romario Valentine, 14, is calling on the public to assist in his attempt to save the Western Cape seabirds.
Image: Supplied
Currently, he has a 2026 Seabird Conservation campaign on crowdfunding platform BackABuddy to help protect our aquatic feathered friends, which are nutrient recyclers and vital for the health of marine ecosystems.
Valentine is supporting three South African organisations: Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) efforts to save the Critically Endangered African Penguin, the Albatross Task Force, and the Mouse-Free Marion Project. All proceeds made will be donated and divided equally between the three organisations.
“To me, hope is being a visionary and believing you can achieve anything with resilience and self-determination. Only together can we create an everlasting legacy and leave something glorious for future generations to come,” Valentine said.
The teenager is urging everyone to support these initiatives and donate towards protecting our wildlife.
When asked what he hopes to become one day, Valentine said: “I want to focus on the field of ecology and conservation and be an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and sportsman. I also want to continue my passion for art, innovation and design.”
Proud parents, Clive Valentine and Delsha Moodley, said they were extremely honoured to have such a creative and nurturing child.
“His achievements are just a testament to his dedication to his causes. We believe his calling is a gift from the Great Spirit and Mother Nature. As a visionary, once he sets his mind to something, he makes sure he achieves that goal and protecting the planet is one of them. We try to be his pillars of strength in all his endeavours. We are grateful for all the support he has been given by South Africans, including the wider regional and international community,” they said proudly.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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