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Three2Six newsletter - end-of-year 2025
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Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility, and our children proved it well this month! They joined hundreds of youths globally from the Terre des Hommes International Youth Network and celebrated Global Action Month. This year’s theme was “Youth rising: building climate resilience together”.
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We took our grade 1 to 5 children to the local community park for a hands-on clean-up activity. They collected litter and learned the importance of caring for shared spaces. This simple act not only helped brighten the park but also taught them responsibility, teamwork, and love for the environment.
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Through classroom activities, our Grade 2 and Grade 3 learners learned about caring for the planet and creating a healthy environment. They explored practical topics such as reducing waste, and understanding noise pollution. These lessons helped the children see how small everyday actions can make a positive difference and encouraged them to take responsibility for their environment.
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Our older grades also contributed with their own projects. In Grade 7 Natural Sciences, students explored how tides affect life on Earth, investigating their impact on sea animals, human activities, and ocean ecosystems. Through research and presentations, they developed both their scientific understanding and research skills.
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Grade 6T collected plastic bottles, transforming them into planters filled with soil and plants, while also creating poems and posters about deforestation and caring for Mother Earth. Grade 6N used colourful plastic materials to make traditional skirts, which they wore to perform a special traditional dance for their peers—a fun and creative way to celebrate sustainability.
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There are many important conversations to have with children, and one of them is about bullying. With the rise of social media, it has increasingly become an issue, both at school and beyond. We are thankful to our partner, Drama for Life from the University of the Witwatersrand, for visiting our Windybrow Theatre campus to engage our students in these important discussions. Through drama, puppet-making and other activities, the children learnt what bullying is and how to respond if they or someone else experiences bullying.
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Visitors at the project
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Our longtime funder from the United Kingdom, the Breadsticks Foundation, took the time this month to visit our new campus, meet with our team, and discuss where the project currently stands, and our plans for the future. The three representatives visited each classroom and interacted with our children and teachers, gaining insight into the work being done on the day. We are truly fortunate to be supported by such caring and committed partners.
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A few days before the holidays, the children at our Windybrow Theatre campus were treated to a fun day by our amazing partner, the Turquoise Harmony Institute. They brought so much joy to the campus with a variety of activities, including ball games, a jumping castle, face painting, and more. After a busy and packed year, this time of fun was exactly what our children needed!
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At the end of November, it was once again time to congratulate our students on their academic achievements for the year, and to bid farewell to our grade 7 students leaving the project. To mark the occasion, we hosted a wonderful Prize Giving celebration at the Cathedral of Christ the King. The event began with an opening Mass led by Fr Mokesh, followed by performances from each grade, after which awards were presented to the children. Our Grade 7 students closed the morning with beautiful speeches and also received awards.
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Congratulations to all our students for their hard work throughout the year. We wish our exiting Grade 7 students every success as they transition into mainstream schools, and are very proud of everyone’s achievements.
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A member of the French community generously donated several bags of fabric and sewing materials to the project! These will be distributed to the mothers in our families who create products to sell. Merci beaucoup to Carine for her support!
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Advocacy update
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On 6 November, the Project hosted a roundtable on education with its partners, the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA).
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The aim of the event was to discuss the newly adopted BELA Act, possible gaps in its implementation, and the lived experiences of undocumented children in accessing education, from a psychosocial perspective. Three guest speakers, from the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria, and Sophiatown Community Psychological Services, shared their expert insights on these topics. Following the presentations, a lively Q&A session led to practical discussions on the advocacy work needed going forward, as well as concrete ways to support undocumented children in accessing their right to education.
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We were delighted to be joined by colleagues from local schools, NGOs, the Department of Social Development, and from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for this important discussion. Collective advocacy work will take place next year to address the key points raised.
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Marist event
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On World Children’s Day, our team joined an inspiring online event (“My voice, my right”) organised by our partner, the Marist Foundation for International Solidarity (FMSI). The event celebrated this special day as well as the Foundation’s 18 years of work advocating for and concretely advancing the rights of children and young people.
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The Marist community came together for an event focused on children’s rights and participation. The programme highlighted the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Periodic Review, through which FMSI worked with over a thousand children across twelve countries to ensure their voices informed human rights recommendations. Powerful testimonies from children and young people around the world reminded us that children’s rights are made real through education, accompaniment, and concrete action.
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We are especially grateful to have been featured in the event, with some of our children sharing inspiring words for the occasion. Click here to view the video. Our students are featured from 27’19”.
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Alumni Day
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As our past students gathered for the monthly Three2Six Alumni Day, we were reminded that November marks a critical period for them as examinations are in full swing. Our past learners took a welcome break from their studies to share their reflections about their hopes and concerns for their upcoming results. This was followed by a fun-filled game of 30 Seconds, which had everyone laughing and enjoying each other's company.
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The day also focused on developing essential computer skills including encouraging critical thinking through an engaging activity of a “Time Capsule”. Students contemplated what their time capsule would be, should this be unearthed 50 years from now. This sparked interesting discussions about the present day and the modern world. Our past Three2Six students showcased their impressive awareness of current events, sharing words and phrases commonly used in their daily conversations as well as popular music and fashion that shapes their cultural landscape.
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At the end of the day with an esteemed note of teamwork, Dineo, Shadrak and Cynthia prepared a delicious meal for the children.
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We extend a very warm thank you to the volunteers behind these monthly alumni days this year, Angel, Nyasha and Tamara. Their love, care and commitment to our past learners is truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful for their dedication in supporting our alumni to succeed at school and in life, and for creating this welcoming space each month where our alumni can reconnect, learn and grow together.
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We wish you all a joyful holiday season and a blessed Christmas! Thank you so much for your generous support this year—it truly means the world to us.
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Each donation counts and helps us make a valuable change in the lives of our learners.
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