As climate change intensifies, South Africans are experiencing frequent heatwaves, flooding and droughts, leaving young children particularly vulnerable to the impact of harsh weather conditions.
Many under-resourced early childhood development (ECD) centres operate in extreme heat without shade or clean water, with poor infrastructure that can’t support children’s growth, health and safety.
For Mandela Day on Friday, Durban-based NPO the Do More Foundation is leading the charge to transform ECD centres in nine rural areas throughout South Africa to become climate resilient.
“This Mandela Day, your contribution goes far beyond infrastructure; it’s an investment in a child’s future,” says Warren Farrer, CEO of the Do More Foundation.
“We’re calling on South Africans to help create safe, nurturing spaces where children can learn, play and grow, even as the climate changes around them.”
Last year its ‘Mandela Day of Play’ campaign saw over 25 business partners and 500 volunteers upgrade 192 ECD centres and improve play spaces for 9,600 young children.
This Mandela Day, the foundation has made a call to the public, corporates and community partners to support a national drive to transform early learning centres in nine rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West, Gauteng, the Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo with upgrades.
This will include:
- safe, shaded play areas to protect children from heat;
- drought-resistant trees;
- access to clean water through water harvesting kits;
- solar-powered appliances, such as fans and lights;
- age-appropriate climate play packs to teach season, climate and weather patterns; and
- climate education and training for ECD practitioners.
As part of the campaign, corporate volunteers will spend their 67 minutes assembling climate resilience play packs, which are interactive games to teach two to five year olds about weather, seasons and basic climate change concepts.
“Early childhood is such a powerful time to start building awareness and encouraging proactive behaviours,” said Dr Jessica Ronaasen, the foundation’s advocacy and innovation lead.
“When we support teachers, parents and caregivers to introduce everyday climate actions such as saving water, protecting trees or staying safe in extreme weather, we’re helping to raise a generation more connected to their environment and prepared for the future.”
For those unable to volunteer in person, the foundation is offering various sponsorship opportunities, starting from R67 for a Climate Resilience Play Pack to a full upgrade of an ECD centre with climate-adaptive tools and infrastructure.
Climate anxiety represents real and valid feelings of fear, worry, stress, helplessness and unease related to evolving climate crises. These should be understood as natural reactions when witnessing the impacts of climate change and not as a mental health condition.
— Unicef
“Sponsorships will transform an under-resourced ECD centre into a safer, cooler, more joyful space for learning and play.
“ECD centres are often the heart of their communities. Practitioners do incredible work, often with very little support. By upgrading these spaces, we’re protecting children and showing communities that climate action can begin right where they are,” said the foundation’s Jabu Mthembu-Dlamini.
A Unicef report, Time to Act: African Children in the Climate Change Spotlight, found children in 48 of the 49 African countries for which data is available are at ‘high’ or ‘extremely high’ risk from extreme weather, illnesses, pollution and environmental degradation associated with changing weather patterns.
“Research has shown children who receive quality care and grow up in healthy environments are more resilient, better equipped to handle adversity and more likely to contribute positively to their communities. The foundation of a sustainable society is built on the wellbeing of its children, making it imperative that we prioritise their needs in our climate response strategies,” the foundation said.
Highlighting the impact of climate crisis on children, Unicef said new terms have emerged to describe the mental health and psychosocial consequences of these changes, including “climate” or “eco-anxiety”.
“Climate anxiety can be described as heightened emotional, mental or physical distress in response to dangerous changes in the climate.
“Climate anxiety represents real and valid feelings of fear, worry, stress, helplessness and unease related to evolving climate crises. These should be understood as natural reactions when witnessing the impacts of climate change and not as a mental health condition.
“While these feelings are natural responses to a growing global crisis, they can become concerning if they start to interfere with a child’s daily life,” said Unicef.
Tshiamo Matabane, a clinical psychologist specialising in child psychology, told Unicef: “Children under 13 years, especially those who have experienced or been exposed to the devastation caused by climate-related events like floods, wildfires, or droughts, may start worrying about such events happening — or happening again.
“They may worry the same events are going to happen to them, their home, their pets, their teachers, their family and friends. Younger children might struggle with separation from their parents in fear that they may not come back for them.
“This may affect their sleep, and some children may begin to have nightmares about disasters. It may trigger fear of losing loved ones and special places.
“Such anxieties can affect children's learning, play and emotional development, especially when these fears are reinforced by direct experience or awareness of nearby events. Adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 have better reasoning compared to younger children, but they have easier access to media showing climate change devastation around the world. They are able to identify the impact climate change is having in their neighbourhoods and the world.”
“Let your child know that you can see their distress. Reassure them that you are there to guide and support them through these worries.
“Be mindful about your own comments and worries around climate change when you are around them. Acknowledge that you are also sad and worried. Be aware of how they are exposed to the devastation depicted in the media,” said Matabane.
• For businesses, organisations and individuals interested in sponsoring the Do More Foundation’s Mandela Day campaign, visit the website or contact their fundraising coordinator on kris.fenton@domore.org.za to partner
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