Project Ubumama received the South African National Parks Environmental Education KUDU Award for 2025. Sarah Mackie (Director and Founder member) attended the 2025 Kudu Awards in Pretoria on November 27th to receive the honour.
This year Project Ubumama gave our Garden route children the precious opportunity to have such fun while learning outdoors. School groups were taken camping, canoeing and hiking and learned many leadership skills through challenging outdoor activities. Our educational focus for 2025 was to share our incredibly rich historical heritage with the learners from George, Knysna and Wilderness.
In April the Outdoor classroom project funded a water awareness week for several school groups from Wilderness and Rheenedal. Our team worked closely with the Wilderness Sanparks rangers to teach students about fire prevention and water management and how to identify water quality indicator insect species like the caddisfly and stonefly.
Water Awareness program at Sanparks Goudveld Nature reserve – Jubilee Creek River
From June to September our school learners were introduced to local museums, archaeological and heritage sites of both George and Knysna.
As part of Knysna’s ‘Oyster Festival’ before the July school holidays, 60 students from three schools participated in a ‘Museum week’ outdoor education event. On Monday, they created chalk drawings about Knysna’s heritage on the sidewalks around the Old Gaol Museum and received an introduction to local history. The LUNCHBOX itinerant theatre performed their ‘Tree Show’ on indigenous tree conservation. Later in the week, 50 students explored the Knysna indigenous forests at Pezulu Private Nature Reserve.
Chalk Drawings on the Knysna Old Gaol Museum pavement – July 2025
Lunchbox Theatre’s performance of ‘The Tree Show’ in the Knysna Museum grounds
The original ‘Old Stone Church’ was constructed in 1822 by Congregational Missionaries, under the inspiration of Reverend Pacalt. Pacaltsdorp is recognised as the earliest settlement in George and holds significance as an original Khoi San heritage site.
George Museum Event
Project Ubumama offered 40 students from Thembalethu’s Siyakhona Science Centre this tour of the George museum and the older districts of George. The event began with a visit to the old Khoisan village in Pacaltsdorp and a discussion about the history and archaeology of the region. At 10 am students congregated in the George Museum courtyard where a local ceramics expert and educator, Anthony Noble, introduced the group of students to pottery. Each child had an opportunity to make their own clay portrait and to try their hand working on a pottery wheel for themselves. Thereafter students had the opportunity to visit and look at the Historical Timber Industry exhibition adjoining the George museum.
During the Sanparks week in October and in November, learners from mainly rural schools in the Karatara and Rheenendal districts were introduced to the exciting history of Knysna’s gold mines, timber and elephant tusk trade at the Millwood heritage site, Goldfields Sanparks Forest reserve.
Students from Ruigtevlei Primary at the Millwood heritage site, Goldfields Sanparks Forest reserve.
An introduction to Indigenous Trees
During the 3rd term, Project Ubumama offered rural schools the opportunity to learn more about our natural heritage in terms of the indigenous forests, flora and fauna and especially our trees. Learners gained not only knowledge but also a profound appreciation for the natural world. From Jubilee Creek’s pristine river ecosystem to the ancient trees of Pezulu Private Nature Reserve, these experiences were designed to highlight the delicate balance of biodiversity and inspire young minds to become stewards of the earth, cherishing the landscapes and resources that sustain life.
Knysna’s Riverwood school hiking in the Pezulu Forest nature reserve
In 2026, Project Ubumama is excited to present a variety of engaging activities for school learners. Next year’s theme, “OUR OCEAN HERITAGE,” will bring opportunities for coastal hikes, rocky shore explorations, and learning sessions about how pollution affects marine life and our local climate.
Thank you to all who have generously shown Project Ubumama such interest and your support. We look forward to many successful partnerships in the future.