The learners at Harmony Primary School can look forward to practising yoga and going on educational excursions after they celebrated their satellite classroom which was launched at their school field on Wednesday 14 May. The new classroom was sponsored through a partnership between the Earthchild Project and the Yope Foundation, according to spokesperson Mandy Abrahams.
She said: “With ongoing attention on the safety of children in communities such as Lavender Hill, Grassy Park, Retreat and Steenberg, where daily headlines speak of trauma, violence and educational disruption, the question of how to protect and support learners remains at the forefront.
The learners and teachers of Harmony Primary School pictured with members of the Earthchild Project and the Yope Foundation. Credit: Keanan Harmse 
Andreas Loy, co-founder of the Yope Foundation said he was honoured to assist with empowering and educating disadvantaged communities. Credit: Keanan Harmse 
Harmony Primary School principal Eunice Manasse expressed her heartfelt thanks to the sponsors. Credit: Keanan Harmse 
Harmony Primary School Grade 2 learners Khai and Navaeh partnered up during the group activities Credit: Keanan Harmse 
Blanche Leukes and Jadene van Neel facilitated the yoga lessons for the learners on the day. Credit: Keanan Harmse 
This is the seventh school that Earthchild has assisted with satellite classrooms. Credit: Keanan Harmse 
Credit: Keanan Harmse
“During Child Protection Month (May), we decided to mark the opening of a new classroom at Harmony Primary School. This initiative responds to the realities children face in under-resourced communities across the Cape Flats, where resilience is tested and where structured, positive spaces are often limited.”
Earthchild Project is a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in the Western Cape. It was established in 2007 to support and educate children from disadvantaged communities through holistic education programmes, focusing on environmental education and health.
School principal Eunice Manasse expressed her heartfelt thanks to the sponsors. “It gives me immense pleasure to celebrate this new beautiful place that will enrich the education our learners receive in this new environment.”
Founder of Earthchild project Janna Kretzmar said it was a dream come true seeing the classroom complete.
“For many years we ran our programmes in the school classrooms, which was very limiting as its very difficult to teach a yoga class in a room full of desks. Then in 2019 we set a goal that all eight of our schools we support would have a yoga class to run our programmes. We also hope to build an organic garden at the school where the school can plant and manage their own crops someday.”
Harmony Primary School’s satellite classroom completed its construction at the end of last year, according to Kretzmar.
This is the seventh school that Earthchild has assisted with satellite classrooms.
Yoga facilitator and previous alumni, Jadene van Neel, started her journey with Earthchild at the age of 10 years at Zerilda Park Primary School in Seawinds.
She feels thrilled to mentor and educate the new generation of learners.
“I started in Grade 4 and continued with their programme until I was in Grade 7. Once I matriculated I applied for Earthchild’s alumni program and started an internship and fortunately got a position as a yoga facilitator. Previously I’ve taught lessons at Hillwood and Levana Primary and now I’ve moved to Harmony and Prince George Primary.”
She teaches learners from Grade R to Grade 6.
Andreas Loy, co-founder of the Yope Foundation, said he was honoured to assist with empowering and educating disadvantaged communities.
Yope was founded in 2013 by Michael Baum.
“We strive to support young innovators and the classroom that we’re sponsoring is a grassroots project for the next generation of leaders, who will hopefully grow into entrepreneurs and impactful society members,” Abrahams said.
“With this launch learners at Harmony Primary School will now have access to the same tools that support children in thriving learning environments.”
Kretzmar said Earthchild and Yope planned on installing another satellite classroom at Prince George Primary School in the near future.
