On May 22, a dynamic training session was conducted at Laudium Primary School, led by Ntuwiseni Kwinda of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
This vital session marks the official beginning of a transformative journey—a collaborative effort to re-establish an experiential learning garden that will serve as both an educational tool and a beacon of environmental stewardship.
The training was attended by a dedicated team from Laudium Primary, including Gerald Sema, Rodney Mathekgane, Daniel Simango, Joseph Msophi, and Lizzy Makeke. Also present was the project’s Impact and Implementation Coordinator, the reigning Ms Africa (2024/2025), McCayla Warriker. This training was more than procedural—it was a precursor to something deeper. On the 4th of June 2025, in celebration of World Environment Day, the re-imagined communal vegetable garden will be unveiled, aligning with this year’s theme to beat plastic pollution. Not merely a garden, but an interactive learning space designed to uplift indigent students and embed ecological consciousness at the very roots of their education, practically teaching the United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), focussing on 6 of the 17 goals: zero hunger, good health and well being, quality education, climate action, life on land and partnerships for the goals. At the heart of this initiative is a deep commitment to environmental education in the foundational phase, shaping children not just as learners, but as future stewards of the earth. It offers a tangible means of community upliftment through accessible and sustainable food cultivation. It also embodies practical environmentalism—through circular gardening models, raised eco-brick beds, and composting systems that teach by example.
The project’s key partners include the Gauteng Provincial Government, Laudium Primary School, Patrician Consulting, Mosaic Art by Natania, and the United Nations Information Centre, reinforcing global alignment and visibility.
This vision is championed by the indomitable Saffiya Ellimdin, Chairperson of the Parent and Community Commission, alongside Acting Principal Mr. M. Padayachy, whose leadership anchors this growing legacy. Special tribute must be paid to Miss Maleeqah
Karriem, whose original efforts in partnership with the UNICEF Campus Club at the University of Pretoria planted the first seeds of hope in this very soil. Though the initial garden faced harsh realities and did not survive, her pioneering spirit now forms the foundation of this renewed and more sustainable approach.
Innovation now leads the way forward. Raised garden beds—crafted from eco-bricks—will not only ensure better soil viability but will serve as living classrooms on recycling, composting, and the regenerative power of nature. The second-grade students, already involved, recently took part in a seed propagation lesson led by Ms Africa herself, learning how to grow new life from household vegetable scraps. The garlic has already begun to sprout.
As the garden takes shape, so does something far greater—an ethos. A way of being. A living lesson that care for the earth begins with hands in the soil and hearts committed to
transformation. This garden is not only a place of growth, but of return—returning to the
simple, profound truth that every child deserves to learn with the world, not just about it. As we prepare for the June unveiling and look toward the arrival of Spring, the project team is also planning the installation of a composting section at the school. This compost heap will enable learners and staff to recycle garden refuse—such as grass cuttings, raked leaves, and food waste—into nutrient rich soil, further reinforcing the principles of sustainability and regeneration. Moreover, a secondary garden is envisioned for the Grade R learners, ensuring that environmental and agricultural values are sown into the soil of their earliest educational experiences.
The project team warmly extends an invitation to the broader community: should you have building materials, seedlings, composting tools, or other relevant resources to contribute, your support would be greatly valued. Together, we can cultivate not only gardens but generations.
In Laudium, the future is taking root—one seed, one student, one story at a time.
Submitted by- McCayla Warriker (Ms Africa).
training session held at Laudium Primary School..