Environmental Education
The establishment of an early childhood development (ECD) site on Flower Valley farm was the first step towards a collaborative effort to provide ECD and professional development of practitioners on the Agulhas Plain.
The ECD programme also focuses on:
- establishing and coordinating Eco-Schools’ nodes.
- developing and piloting short courses in environmental education and ECD.
- training and mentoring practising and emerging ECD practitioners.
- developing collaboration and partnerships in the region.
Learning is at the heart of this project – both the learning and development of young children and the learning of those who work with them. The programme explores tools that will support practitioners in their efforts to engage children, the ECD centre and the local community in relevant environmental issues. This needs to be done in ways that are appropriate in terms of children’s age, development and culture.
Environmental education
Environmental education in the ECD site context provides a wonderful opportunity to work and support change on:
- an individual level (e.g. child to child, practitioner to child, child to practitioner),
- group level (e.g. school governing bodies, ECD site management and training), and
- systemic level (e.g. institutional arrangements, policy, partnerships).
When we understand the nature of the environmental crisis, the vulnerable position in which our children are placed becomes clear. It is important to find meaningful and appropriate ways to engage young children, families, ECD practitioners and other professionals to think and learn about the environmental and sustainability challenges we face.