South Africa - Living Classrooms: Sustainable Schools Project (SEED), Cape Flats
The Cape Flats lies on the outskirts of Cape Town. Overcrowding due to rapid urbanisation has led to a degradation of the environment where communities struggle to survive alongside dwindling wildlife. The high level of HIV infection places further hardship on these communities, as access to nutritious food is essential to building immune systems, whilst assisting concentration and learning.
The Challenge:
South African children must attend school in full uniform - despite extreme hardship experienced by the majority of families. Placing a huge burden on families, many nonetheless see education as so important that uniforms will often take priority over food. The high level of HIV infection at schools in the Cape Flats is a stark reminder of Africa’s predicament - with infection rates at 10% and 25% amongst students and teachers respectively. For this reason increasing access to nutritious foods and employing a land management system which is a low input, high output driven approach to cultivation and production is essential for immune-compromised communities. Reliance on chemicals (for fertilisers and pest control) can worsen the effects of HIV.
Our Response:
GardenAfrica is supporting local training partner SEED who have established the sustainable schools programme. This innovative pilot has incorporated 12 schools in the Cape Flats area, helping them to develop gardens that provide an example for students and a resource rooted in the heart of the community. Teachers are trained to integrate garden activities into formal learning, bringing life into the classroom and essential tools for generations to carry forward.
Open activity days with garden competitions during the holidays, further encourages the involvement of parents to learn ways in which they can more fully utilise the resources around them to develop similar gardens - providing food and an improved home environment.
Environmental education has been recognised by the Western Cape Department of Education as the key to linking learning areas. This programme trains teachers to deliver the new outcomes-based curriculum using the garden as a tool, and is instructive to at least five of the eight learning areas:
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Life Orientation
• Art and Culture
With the resounding success of the pilot, GardenAfrica is now seeking funding to expand the initiative in conjunction with SEED. Further schools will be identified in partnership with the Department of Education.
Please help GardenAfrica and support our Living Classrooms programme
Make a Donation to GardenAfrica
<< Back to Countries where GardenAfrica operates list
The Challenge:
South African children must attend school in full uniform - despite extreme hardship experienced by the majority of families. Placing a huge burden on families, many nonetheless see education as so important that uniforms will often take priority over food. The high level of HIV infection at schools in the Cape Flats is a stark reminder of Africa’s predicament - with infection rates at 10% and 25% amongst students and teachers respectively. For this reason increasing access to nutritious foods and employing a land management system which is a low input, high output driven approach to cultivation and production is essential for immune-compromised communities. Reliance on chemicals (for fertilisers and pest control) can worsen the effects of HIV.
Our Response:
GardenAfrica is supporting local training partner SEED who have established the sustainable schools programme. This innovative pilot has incorporated 12 schools in the Cape Flats area, helping them to develop gardens that provide an example for students and a resource rooted in the heart of the community. Teachers are trained to integrate garden activities into formal learning, bringing life into the classroom and essential tools for generations to carry forward.
Open activity days with garden competitions during the holidays, further encourages the involvement of parents to learn ways in which they can more fully utilise the resources around them to develop similar gardens - providing food and an improved home environment.
Environmental education has been recognised by the Western Cape Department of Education as the key to linking learning areas. This programme trains teachers to deliver the new outcomes-based curriculum using the garden as a tool, and is instructive to at least five of the eight learning areas:
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Life Orientation
• Art and Culture
With the resounding success of the pilot, GardenAfrica is now seeking funding to expand the initiative in conjunction with SEED. Further schools will be identified in partnership with the Department of Education.
Please help GardenAfrica and support our Living Classrooms programme
Make a Donation to GardenAfrica
<< Back to Countries where GardenAfrica operates list
