Stanger is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, located inland from Blythedale in the midst of sugarcane fields, and is part of the Zulu Heritage Route and the Sugar Route. However, the area is afflicted with poverty and high youth unemployment, which has led to an increase in the crime rate.

Stanger Training Centre was established 35 years ago and is a facility that takes care of and educates children 6-18 years old, who are severely intellectually impaired with down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy. The centre has a total of 252 children who attend the school, where environmental education is a part of the curriculum. The school was registered as a LEAF school in 2019 to expand its ongoing projects and gain a better understanding of its local environment.

Through their participation in the programme, the school developed its own indigenous biodiversity garden - one which helped enhance students’ opportunity for creativity and connection to nature, which consequently stimulated their curiosity. Various tree-planting sessions took place, with outdoor biodiversity lessons revolving around the value of trees and their importance to conserve nature and sustain healthy school grounds. Students gained leadership skills and self-confidence. They gained a deeper understanding of the value of their surroundings and human interactions with the environment and were able to solve local sustainability challenges by increasing native biodiversity.

"The garden was turned into something special: an outdoor classroom where students and teachers can look, observe, learn and flourish."

Cindy-Lee Cloete, LEAF South Africa National Operator

The project exposed students to the natural environment and outdoor education experiences. Giving them a chance to experience nature instilled a sense of responsibility and provided a different and beneficial brain stimulation. The natural experience provided students with meaningful opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Spending time outdoors, interacting with the natural environment allowed children to learn by doing and experimenting with ideas. Learners gained new knowledge and curiosity and were inspired to start taking care of their local nature and school grounds.

“The positive impacts of this project will be felt for years to come” 

Principal MR KP Hira