Hannah and Emma Lea are cousins in Grade 6 together at the Micklefield Primary School in Rondebosch, Cape Town. As part of their school project, the cousins have chosen to raise funds for our Nurture an Eco-Warrior campaign by selling coffee, raising sponsorship for a challenging cycle, and appealing to friends and family.

Many of the children we work with Khayelitsha and the Cape Flats have never stood on top of a mountain, placed their feet in clear water streams or walked through a forest. The Nurture an Eco-Warrior campaign aims to give these children opportunities to experience nature directly, rather than through a textbook. This is important, particularly if we’re asking children to care for and protect the environment.

The cousins set themselves a target of R2,000, which they have already exceeded. They’ve raised over R10,000 so far. Emma Lea says, “Hannah and I chose to support the Earthchild Project this year because we believe that education, self-confidence and health are important to our later lives as adults”.

The impact of standing on top of a mountain extends beyond environmental awareness. Research shows that time spent in and with nature can be very healing for children growing up in communities with social and economic challenges such as unemployment, gangsterism and substance abuse.

To Nurture an Eco-Warrior go to: Givengain.com/cc/nurtureanecowarrior