Green Chics is a value-added programme for ECD centres looking to enhance caregiver engagement, foster collective problem-solving, and boost children’s environmental awareness. Research indicates that nearly 90% of the global health burden related to climate change is borne by children under five, underscoring the urgent need for ECD centres to serve as hubs for resilience, education, and collective action (Sheffield & Landrigan, 2011). By encouraging families and communities to collaborate on practical, sustainable activities, Green Chics aims to strengthen collective problem-solving skills that can be applied to broader community challenges, positioning the ECD site as a catalyst for positive change.
The programme is structured around five themes: Soil, Food, Water, Waste, and Energy. Each theme includes activities, ranging from exploratory “Sense Safaris” to creative “Show and Tell” sessions, storytelling, and collaborative caregiver-child projects. The final day of each theme always involves caregivers, reinforcing connections between homes and ECD centres while fostering active participation in children’s learning journeys.
Throughout the year, principals introduce all five themes, identifying which resonates most with their group based on local challenges. For instance, during the Waste theme, participants might notice a nearby dumping site, leading to collective action such as engagements with municipal authorities and clean-ups, as happened at the Zama Zama School of Hope in Pretoria West. Once a theme gains traction, the group can focus on addressing that issue long-term or move on to explore other themes, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to community needs.
The Green Chics Programme kicks off with a three-day training and co-creation workshop, bringing together ECD practitioners from the same region. This interactive session fosters collaboration and lasting peer networks for continued encouragement. Following the workshop, Nova provides a year-long structured process to help principals embed Green Chics into their curriculum and caregiver engagements. Participants receive useful resources, such as the Green Action Toolkit filled with practical strategies, and are connected through a localised WhatsApp group to share experiences, insights, and motivation as they integrate sustainable practices into their communities.