A Milestone Moment

Mandie Gericke • April 20, 2025

Celebrating the Opening of Our First Grade R Centre 

On April 15th, we reached a proud and powerful milestone in the journey of Eco Children — the official opening of our very first Grade R Centre at Makwetse Primary School! This momentous occasion was filled with joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of purpose, as we celebrated a step forward for early childhood education in our community.


Building the Future, One Child at a Time

The importance of Grade R — or the Reception Year — cannot be overstated. It’s during these early years that the foundations for lifelong learning are laid. Grade R is where children begin to explore their world, build social and emotional skills, and develop the confidence to take on the future.  This centre is more than a classroom — it’s a carefully crafted environment made for children, where learning happens through play, imagination, and exploration. Every element was thoughtfully designed to foster curiosity, joy, and growth.

From age-appropriate educational tools to beautifully curated play spaces, this Grade R Centre is a place where our youngest learners can truly thrive.


Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

This dream would not have become a reality without the generosity and commitment of our partners. We extend our heartfelt thanks to:

• The Jell Foundation

• Kapama Private Game Reserve


Your support has been instrumental in making this vision come to life, and your presence at the launch event made the day even more meaningful.


We were also honored to have our chairman, Deon Huysamer , join us in celebrating this momentous occasion, alongside key community leaders and stakeholders, including:

• Chief R.N. Chiloane

• Induna Manzini

• Circuit Manager, M.L. Makofane

• Ward Councillor, R. Mashile


Your attendance reflects the shared commitment to uplifting our children and building stronger communities through education.

Innovative Learning for a New Generation

The new Grade R Centre features unique learning equipment designed by Hannah Barnes from Young Game Changers, whose creative approach promotes play-based learning that inspires problem-solving, collaboration, and confidence. Her contributions have added a vibrant and interactive dimension to the classroom that children are already responding to with excitement and joy.


We are also proud to integrate the Wild Hearts Environmental Education Programme, developed in collaboration with the Made Better Together Foundation. This inspiring curriculum weaves environmental awareness into early education through storytelling, games, and hands-on outdoor experiences — teaching children to care for the world around them from the very start.

Community, Commitment & Celebration


The opening event was a true celebration of collaboration. From performances by the learners to speeches from our honoured guests, the day was filled with warmth and hope for what lies ahead. The excitement in the eyes of our Grade R learners said it all — this space is already making a difference.

To everyone who made this day possible — thank you. Whether you attended, sponsored, built, taught, or helped behind the scenes, you were part of something meaningful and lasting.


A special thanks to our Eco Children team, whose passion and dedication ensured every detail was perfectly in place. Your planning, coordination, and heart brought this event — and this project — to life.

Looking Ahead


This Grade R Centre is just the beginning. As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding access to quality early childhood education across our region. Together, we can nurture the conservationists, entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers of tomorrow — one young learner at a time.

Here’s to planting the seeds of hope, one Grade R classroom at a time. 

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