Help children in rural South Africa see wildlife

2023 End Of Year Competition

One of the most important programmes run by our organisation KRF is our Big 5 Schools education project in the ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres within the community bordering Dinokeng Game Reserve.

Whilst a big part of this project includes a trip into a game reserve, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of the other leg of the project: the in-classroom education. Wildlife sensitization and a basic understanding of wild animals is something that is easy to take for granted. Statistically, the children of Hammanskraal live on the outskirts of a big 5 game reserve, but 99% of them will never see a wild animal in their lifetime. This is why the education is so indispensable. Through immersive classroom activities such as shadow puppets and theatrical storytelling, in the native tongue of these young learners, an understanding of what wild animals are, as well as their importance, is introduced. This helps build a foundation for the trips into the game reserve. 

Since its inception in 2021 the number of children learning about the big 5 in school is now over 400, with 20 ECD centres involved. At the end of each year, we have a ‘competition’ so that the schools involved can demonstrate what they have learnt throughout the year. It really is a highlight in both the KRF and the schools’ calendars. 

The children are brought to the venue and each ECD centre performs a dance or short play telling a story of the Big 5 animals that they learnt about during the year. Even though it is called a competition, the prize at the end is shared between all ECD centres, regardless of the winner. A sense of collaboration has been created in the ECD centres as a result where they all work and grow together, supporting each other rather than competing. The prizegiving is then followed by a jovial lunch with music and dancing. 

Our community coordinator told us that the unity that this program has brought to the ECD centres within Hammanskraal is unlike anything he has seen before, which is feedback that warms our hearts.

We look forward to what 2024 holds in store for this program and the undeniable value that it brings to the community!