WILD HEARTS was created to fill a critical gap in early childhood environmental education. Young children are naturally curious about the world, yet many ECD centres – especially in underserved communities – lack accessible, high-quality resources that nurture this curiosity and build a strong foundation for conservation. We saw an opportunity to create something joyful, inclusive, and rooted in the realities of African childhoods.
The program was designed to make environmental learning playful, affordable, and meaningful. Through art, storytelling, movement, and hands-on exploration, WILD HEARTS helps children connect emotionally to nature long before concepts like “conservation” feel abstract or distant. By reaching children early, we can grow a generation of young custodians who understand that they are part of the natural world and capable of protecting it.
Just as importantly, WILD HEARTS aims to empower teachers. Many educators want to teach environmental topics but feel under-resourced or unsure where to begin. Our structured, easy-to-use lessons and free supplementary activities give teachers confidence while keeping learning fun.
Finally, WILD HEARTS was created to strengthen community partnerships. Environmental stewardship is not a solo effort. By working with organisations, schools, and foundations across South Africa, we can ensure every child – regardless of background – has access to the wonder, knowledge, and skills that inspire lifelong care for the planet.
In practice, WILD HEARTS is a playful, accessible environmental education programme designed for children aged 3 to 9. It now includes 40 core lessons inspired by key environmental themes and 70 additional activities that deepen learning through games, art, storytelling, movement, and outdoor exploration. All content is free and delivered as easy-to-use PDFs so that any school or organisation can participate.
Teacher empowerment is central. We provide training online or in person, one training session for every lesson, and offer continuous support through a dedicated WhatsApp group where teachers share successes, ask questions, and receive guidance.
Each lesson is structured to make learning joyful and meaningful: an inviting introduction sparks curiosity, followed by a guided conversation, child-friendly images, and an active conclusion such as a game, song, or rhyme. Every lesson includes an art activity using simple or recyclable materials, ensuring children learn through creativity while reinforcing environmental responsibility.
WILD HEARTS works because it is practical, adaptable, and rooted in the realities of African classrooms. It brings nature into daily learning, builds teacher confidence, and helps children develop a lifelong connection to the natural world – one playful lesson at a time.
WILD HEARTS has spread organically through strong partnerships, word of mouth, and the enthusiasm of teachers who experience its impact firsthand. What began as a small initiative in Cape Town has expanded into 3 of South Africa’s provinces as ECD centres, NGOs, and conservation groups adopt the programme to strengthen their environmental education efforts.
The growth has been steady and meaningful. In 2023, the programme reached 80 children, trained 4 staff, and worked with 2 partners across 2 schools. By 2024, this expanded to 3 041 children, 158 trained staff, 9 partner organisations, and 48 schools. In 2025, WILD HEARTS reached 4 282 children through regular implementation, trained 137 staff (many continuing from 2024), partnered with 12 organisations, and worked in 109 schools. Museum partnerships have added 22 Western Cape museums, creating single-encounter lessons for many more children.
Collaboration remains the key driver of this growth. Partners discover WILD HEARTS through training sessions, social media, and networks such as the Do More Foundation, Sustainable Schools Hub and Grow ECD. Because the content is free and easy to implement, new partners quickly begin teaching and often encourage nearby centres to join.
Teacher training continues to fuel expansion, with each cohort introducing the programme to new communities. A dedicated WhatsApp group keeps implementers connected and confident. Conference engagements, including EEASA, have opened new avenues for 2026!
WILD HEARTS has evolved significantly since its launch. We began with 21 lessons and no additional activities, then expanded to 30 lessons with 49 extras, and now offer 40 lessons and 70 supplementary activities that support art, storytelling, movement, and games. This growth has been driven by teacher feedback and a commitment to making environmental education joyful, relevant, and accessible.
A major development has been shifting toward biome-based learning. By aligning lessons with the biomes where children live, the programme has become more meaningful and culturally grounded. This approach also opens the door for future expansion into additional African and global biomes – potentially allowing WILD HEARTS to reach many more children across diverse environments.
We have also adapted our implementation model. Partners are encouraged to deliver at least 20 lessons a year, but they now have the flexibility to choose from the full set of 40, selecting themes most relevant to their communities. This has increased ownership, creativity, and long-term commitment.
Teacher support has strengthened too, with more structured training and a dedicated WhatsApp group for ongoing guidance. To improve access even further, we are now developing our own Learning Management System, which will allow partners to access all content easily and support smoother, more scalable implementation.
Every change is guided by real children and partners, keeping WILD HEARTS impactful and meaningful!
Contact us directly: https://www.tenthousestructures.com/wild-hearts. Fill in the form and we will be in direct contact with you! Or else get hold of us on foundation@tenthousestructures.com
