Our
work

Hyphae Programme

The Hyphae Program was designed with the intention of awakening community teachers to an understanding of nature, of their individual relationship with nature, and the many learning opportunities that nature provides. We deliver a series of lessons at a school, exploring themes such as Water is Life, Plants, Habitats, Waste & Recycling, etc. Our learning experiences are interactive, rooted in play and sensory experience. The lessons take place outside and utilise nature as the primary learning resource. This is done to enthuse the teachers we work with and inspire them to consider alternative approaches to education; as well as fill the children with a sense of wonder and awe. We also host a training workshop with the teachers, during which we equip them with the skills to design and deliver lessons that teach about the environment, outside. We then support them in implementing what they have learnt. The Hyphae Programme is intended to provide the first step in establishing a lasting relationship with the schools.

Community Embedded Environmental Education

This year we have worked with over 30 teachers from 15 different ECD Centres in Inanda, Durban. The Programme combines mentorship on an engaging earth stewardship curriculum, training on both early childhood development and using nature as a tool for education, immersive experiences for the children and teachers, and workshops on indigenous knowledge, and upcycling. These experiences are crafted together to form a transformative learning journey, that will ultimately, and most importantly, fill the teachers with an enthusiasm and confidence to teach environmental education in an engaging manner. Our earth stewardship curriculum, which comprises of over 40 lessons, has been specifically designed to encourage the development of 21st Century Skills (creative thinking, critical thinking, communication and collaboration). It also incorporates play-based activities that promote age-appropriate cognitive, social, emotional and gross motor and fine motor skills. The curriculum is accompanied by contextually appropriate resources, ensuring that the teachers will be able to share these lessons with their learners in years to come. The Programme is designed to encourage participation from the teachers: enticing them to engage in each learning opportunity, as their engagement unlocks further opportunities for self-development. By the end of 2025, we envisage having 15 enthusiastic teachers, sharing our earth stewardship curriculum and incorporating nature as a tool for education, on a weekly basis. As each teacher reaches approximately 40 learners, there is potential that 600 champions for the earth could be formed each year going forward.