Ayabulela, known as Aya, is 15 years old and lives in Khayelitsha with her family. Her journey with Earthchild Project began in Grade 1, almost a decade ago, when she first stepped onto a yoga mat at school.
Since then, Aya has grown alongside Earthchild Project, moving through yoga, Crown Sisters, Young Leaders, and now into our Alumni Programme. Her story is a powerful example of what long-term, consistent youth development can make possible.
In communities where substance abuse, violence, and peer pressure place immense strain on young people, Aya speaks honestly about the realities many youth face.
“Substance abuse, which may involve alcohol and drugs, does have a high impact on our youth, ruining their lives,” she says.
Through Earthchild Project’s programmes, Aya found tools that helped her stay grounded, especially yoga and breathing practices.
“Yoga does make sure that one is stable mentally,” she explains. “Amongst homes that have a lot of violence, one would be able to get more peace through just doing yoga.”
Today, as part of the Alumni Programme, Aya supports and facilitates for younger learners in her community, just as she was once supported herself. The programme focuses on leadership, responsibility, and giving back, creating a cycle of mentorship rooted in lived experience. “Leadership programs are important for the youth in my community,” Aya says, “because we really do need better leaders for our future.”
For Aya, leadership is about staying true to herself, even when life feels overwhelming. “What I learned about myself in the ECP programs is staying true to myself is a better step into making sure that I conquer everything that the world throws at me.”
Her journey reflects the heart of Earthchild Project’s work: early intervention, continuity, and trust built over time. When young people are supported consistently, from childhood through adolescence and into leadership, they become anchors of stability and hope within them.
As Earthchild Project marks 20 years of impact, Aya’s story reminds us that real change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when organisations commit to walking alongside young people, year after year, as they grow into confident, conscious leaders for their communities.
💚 You can help make journeys like Aya’s possible. By sponsoring a child through leadership training, you support the next generation of confident, values-driven leaders. Donate here https://www.givengain.com/cc/earthchild-project–yoga–environmental-programmes
