The Challenge: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.
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 curriculum using the garden as a tool, and is instructive to seven of the eight learning areas:
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Life Orientation
• Art and Culture
• Geography
• Economic & Management Sciences
Supporting the CurriculumGardenAfrica has been supporting the development of SEED's new schools materials which in turn extend support for teacher training and sustainable school development in the Cape Flats, to Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.
The latest resource, entitled ‘Designing for Abundance’ builds on existing work with schools to teach intermediate phase Geography (grades 4-6). Like other SEED resources, Designing for Abundance takes a practical approach to make the subject matter come alive, creating stimulating and productive educational environments for South Africa’s youth.
The first book, ‘The Living Laboratory’ has now been widely adopted by the Western Cape Dept of Education. During future print-runs, Designing for Abundance, and Great Abundance, Natural Wealth (2009 – catering for the Economic & Management Sciences) will be combined into one edition, covering six of the eight curricular subjects in one resource.
Please help GardenAfrica and support our Living Classrooms program me
