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Three2Six newsletter - May 2026
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Start of term 2
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In early May, our students and teachers returned to the project with lots of excitement, energy, and happy smiles as we began a new term together. It was wonderful to see everyone reconnect with friends, share holiday stories, and settle back into the rhythm of learning. We’re excited to continue this journey of growth and learning together.
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New programme
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The Three2Six learners have embarked on an exciting robotics journey in partnership with Jozi My Jozi, with sessions taking place from Tuesday to Friday at the Netstar Digital Learning Centre.
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The programme, which will run until the end of the year, introduces learners across all grades to basic robotics, coding, and problem-solving skills through hands-on, interactive activities. A baseline assessment was conducted at the start to better understand learners’ existing knowledge and to ensure that activities are tailored to their diverse learning needs.
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Learners have already shown great enthusiasm and curiosity, engaging actively in building, exploring, and working together. This initiative not only sparks interest in STEM but also builds confidence, creativity, and collaboration among learners. We look forward to seeing the continued growth and innovation that this programme will inspire.
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Environmental education outing
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On 15 May, all our learners visited the Delta Environmental Centre for an educational environmental awareness programme. The purpose of the visit was to increase learners' understanding of environmental conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable living practices.
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During the visit, our learners participated in guided activities that introduced them to different aspects of the natural environment. They learned about ecosystems, the importance of protecting wildlife and plants, recycling, water conservation, and ways to reduce pollution. The facilitators shared valuable knowledge and encouraged learners to ask questions and engage in discussions.
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Our children showed great interest throughout the visit. The hands-on learning experience helped them gain a deeper appreciation of nature and the role they can play in protecting the environment.
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Overall, the visit to the Delta Environmental Centre was informative, enjoyable, and educational. It provided learners with practical knowledge and inspired them to become more environmentally responsible citizens.
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Teacher workshop
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Before the start of term 2, our teachers participated in the Six Bricks training which provided a dynamic and practical approach to learning through play, using simple LEGO bricks to support holistic child development. During the training, our educators were equipped with creative, hands-on activities designed to enhance learners’ cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. The programme demonstrated how short, structured activities with the six bricks can improve memory, concentration, coordination, language development, and problem-solving abilities. It also emphasised inclusivity, showing how these playful methods can be adapted to support learners of different abilities and backgrounds. The training empowered teachers with engaging strategies to make learning more interactive, meaningful, and accessible for every child.
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Healing and growth in the bush
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For many of our learners, whose families have fled conflict and rebuilt their lives far from home, healing from trauma requires more than a classroom. This month, nearly 40 Grade 4 and 5 learners spent three days at Sediba Kwêle Adventure Camp, a wildlife reserve two hours outside Johannesburg. For many, it was their first time seeing a horizon without high-rise buildings. What happened there was not just a holiday, but a powerful form of therapy.
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Learners challenged themselves by climbing walls, soaring down ziplines, swimming, hiking, and working together to complete obstacle courses. Each activity encouraged them to step beyond their comfort zones, helping them discover new confidence and resilience. As one learner shared, "I discovered I can do things I first thought I was not able to do."
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The camp also strengthened friendships and trust. Through teamwork and shared experiences, children who are often quiet or withdrawn found their voices, while others discovered the joy of encouraging and supporting their peers. Laughter, cooperation, and a growing sense of belonging became just as important as the adventures themselves.
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For children who have experienced displacement and uncertainty, positive experiences like these can have a lasting impact. The memories of overcoming challenges, sharing meals with friends, and exploring the outdoors provide powerful new reference points, helping to build resilience and hope for the future.
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The Sediba Kwêle camp was not just an escape from reality, but an experience of a new kind of reality. This is a reality where children learn that they are capable, that nature heals, and that they belong to a team. The Three2Six Refugee Children's Education Project cannot change where children came from, but it can change where they are going.
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We are grateful to Mr Lubner for his generous support in making the camp possible.
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Empowering learners through child protection education
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Our learners recently participated in an important Child Protection Rights session in partnership with Childline South Africa for Child Protection Week. The session aimed to raise awareness about children’s rights, personal safety, and the importance of speaking out.
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Through interactive discussions and age-appropriate activities, learners were guided on how to recognise unsafe situations, understand their rights, and seek help when needed. The facilitators created a safe and supportive environment where learners felt comfortable to engage and ask questions.
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The session was empowering, equipping learners with essential knowledge to protect themselves and support one another. This initiative reinforces our commitment to the wellbeing, safety, and holistic development of every child.
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Foundation for Human Rights visit
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We were delighted to welcome two representatives from our funder, the Foundation for Human Rights, to our project. They spent meaningful time with both our children and team—listening, engaging, and learning more about the community we serve.
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Their visit offered an opportunity to share our work more deeply, reflect on the challenges our families face, and highlight the commitment and care that drive our team every day. We truly appreciate their interest, encouragement, and support as part of this shared journey.
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Start of the school readiness programme
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Over three Saturdays in May, Three2Six delivered a series of workshops, based on the Ready to learn framework, for refugee parents to help them prepare their children (aged 4–6) for Grade R or Grade 1. The sessions explored key aspects of school readiness, including the importance of play, movement, early literacy, predictable routines, and practical ways parents can support learning at home using everyday, low-cost materials. Parents and children took part in parallel activities before coming together to practise what they had learned.
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The workshops were exceptionally well received, with high levels of participation from both parents and children. Parents reported feeling more confident in supporting their children's development, while children became increasingly engaged, cooperative, and enthusiastic as the programme progressed. The play-based, trauma-informed approach proved effective across different languages and cultural backgrounds.
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Some challenges arose, including varying literacy levels among a small number of parents. However, these were successfully addressed through simple adaptations such as peer support, visual learning materials, and modified activities, ensuring all families could participate fully.
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One of the programme's most significant outcomes was the development of a new resource: Ready to Learn: A Guide for the Facilitator and Carer, which has been added to the programme materials. Drawing on lessons from the workshops, the guide provides a practical, easy-to-use framework for future facilitators, including session plans, no-equipment icebreakers, and facilitation tips.
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Alumni workshop
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This May session built on the workshop held last month. Guided by the Timia Africa team and its facilitator Divine, our alumni group revisited the Ikigai framework to further explore their skills, interests, and potential future pathways. Participants used the framework in an individual mapping exercise to reflect on their passions, strengths and opportunities.
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The group then explored the concept of “economy” before breaking into small teams to develop their own business ideas. Each group presented their idea in plenary, reflecting on how small businesses can create positive impact within their communities. There will be a final session in this series before moving on to other themes.
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Conference with partner organisations
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Photo credit: the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town
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At the end of the month, our coordinator Justine attended the Conference on Children on the Move 2026: Identity Rights and Children on the Move, Exploring Best Practices and Protection Gaps through a Comparative Lens, hosted by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, in collaboration with the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), the Scalabrini Centre for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA), Catholic Centre for Legal Aid Services (CCLAS), and Jesuit Refugee Service Uganda.
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The conference brought together researchers, educators, government representatives, child protection practitioners, and civil society organisations working with refugee, asylum-seeking, migrant, and internally displaced children across Africa.
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Photo credit: the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town
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Discussions focused on identity rights, birth registration and documentation, preventing statelessness, and protecting unaccompanied and separated children. A key concern was that many children on the move lack legal identity or proper documentation, limiting their access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
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The conference highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration between governments, NGOs, and international partners, share good practices across countries, and improve policy implementation through evidence-based approaches.
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It provided an important platform for sharing research, experiences, and strategies to improve the protection of vulnerable children. It reaffirmed the urgent need for stronger systems that ensure identity rights, prevent statelessness, and provide appropriate care for unaccompanied and separated children. Most importantly, it emphasised collective responsibility in ensuring that every child on the move is protected, recognised, and included.
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New videos of the project
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In February, the wonderful team at Injini - the only EdTech specialised accelerator in Africa – visited our project for a morning to capture footage of our work and interview members of our team. Following the visit, two videos were produced and released this month.
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The first features our teacher Precious, who shares her personal story and reflects on the importance of refugee education. The second provides an overview of Three2Six, highlighting the challenges faced by our learners, the holistic support we provide them, and the sense of belonging Three2Six creates for refugee and migrant children. You can watch the first video here and the second one here.
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Thank you so much to Injini for taking the time to learn about our mission and the importance of refugee education, and for producing such beautiful content that helps raise awareness of both.
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Each donation counts and helps us make a valuable change in the lives of our learners.
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