Midlands Meander Education Project

School days in many KwaZulu Natal Midlands schools are far from ordinary, particularly if ‘The Bugs’ are expected that day.

Most mornings the Midlands Meander Association Education Project facilitators set off to visit little farm schools and busy township schools, where they pop bright, magic hats on to the heads of giggling learners before focussing on creative lessons that integrate seamlessly with the current curriculum. Each lesson which is co-taught with enthusiastic educators involves some quiet contemplative time, an exciting relevant story, action and theory all woven together with special Bug flair. Working closely with the WESSA WWF Eco-School programme the Bugs assist the schools to participate and actively improve their school environments.

Gugu the Grasshopper might be dramatising Climate Change with a Grade 6 class whilst Charles the Chameleon is clambering through wetlands and doing water quality surveys with Grade 9’s. Icimbi the Caterpillar will be laughing and seed saving in the garden with a keen crew of Grade 2’s armed with jars, pencils and notebooks and Busi the Bookworm will be in the library helping Grade 5 learners explore the wonders of different cultures. Masechaba the Mayfly can be seen with giddy Grade 1’s doing creative numeracy with her multi-coloured parachute as a warm up to a natural science lesson about trees.

The Bugs not only teach about the natural world and the skills to living in it but do their best to live lighter. Busi the Bookworm does her bit for the planet by cycling to her schools. Gugu the Grasshopper is a fan of hyper-miling, this is a technique to save fuel and cut carbon emissions. Charles & Icimbi are both taxi catchers and spread their creative knowledge on some of these journeys to curious passengers. Masechaba the Mayfly can be seen on fine days riding her pony along the dirt roads to visit Corrie Lynn farm school. Some Bugs are vegetarian and some have their own home-grown chickens for dinner but all of them have food gardens at home and share seeds and advice with each other. The Bugs are completely passionate about their work and the learners & educators around the Midlands Meander welcome them with open arms and hearts

The Bugs also run Enviro Clubs on weekends in local communities. The children from the Mpophomeni Enviro Club and Zenzane Enviro Club are proving to be dedicated and delighted environmentalists who are becoming ably equipped to become agents of positive change within their communities and schools.

Would you like to help the Bugs spread their Magic? Visit The B.U.G Shop on our website and indulge in a little shopping with a conscience.

Since 2003 the Midlands Meander Association Education Project has supported over 20 disadvantaged rural and urban schools in a number of ways. Our main focus is on educator support through creative co-teaching in a wide range of areas with a special focus on environmental education. MMAEP fieldworkers bring enthusiasm and a new dimension to learning which we believe has a positive impact on the development of the thousands of learners attending schools which currently participate in the programme. For more information on our programmes, visit our Environment, Art and Craft, Life Skills,