The Baobab tree is known as the ‘tree of life’. It withstands the harshest conditions, stores water, feeds families and marks time across generations. If ever there was a symbol of optimism in Africa, this is it. Now, a new kind of growth is taking root across villages in Botswana, this time in the form of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres.
The Natural Selection Foundation is busily establishing ECDs throughout the areas we operate, including Khwai, Gudigwa, Moreomaoto, and our most recent addition is The Learning Tree in Shorobe. In addition to providing the children with an education, the centres also offer nourishment through the meals served during the day, safety, and a steady rhythm for shaping the next generation. It’s a small start with wide-reaching impact and we’re extremely proud to support each of these local communities and the children living in them. The Learning Tree in Shorobe village was established by Tawana camp in May 2024. It joins our other Natural Selection Foundation-supported preschools which form part of our Mmogo Centres for Community Development initiative – ‘Mmogo’ means ‘together in Setswana. Built on strong community involvement, the school is part of a broader early childhood development initiative focused on two key issues – nutrition and early development for young children plus much needed support for women.
Every weekday, 40 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years come from Xhabe, Shokomoka and Mochaba villages, with some walking from far-off cattle posts and others being transported, to gather in the classroom of The Learning Tree. Elephant Haven, a nearby elephant orphanage is our project partner, and helps get children to and from school in their minibus. Upon arrival, the children are met with warmth, by teachers who know their names, with meals that start before dawn – this is a safe place for them to simply be children. The lessons are simple but transformative: counting, recognising colours and learning letters. Every bit as important are the lessons in kindness – how to share, apologise and look after one another. In places where life can be difficult, these classrooms offer safety and structure.
Each child receives two meals daily: fortified porridge in the morning and a lunch. At the Maria Ramsden Learning Centre in Khwai village, much of the produce comes from the school garden, tended by local hands and helped by the children themselves. Planting, watering, weeding – each task is a lesson in patience, care, and the possibility of growth under any conditions. In all of the schools, mealtimes go beyond food. It’s about community and belonging. In fact, everything here begins with the community. Teachers, cooks, security and support staff all come from the surrounding villages. In Shorobe, mothers take turns preparing food and assisting in class. Their presence gives the school a grounding – one rooted in shared responsibility and deep cultural knowledge.
Every day is filled with learning, care and kindness. It often starts with quiet attention. A child without a jacket is quickly given one. A sick child is gently noticed and treated. These are not isolated moments. They’re part of a wider, silent system of observation and action – one that often works beneath the surface, but with lasting impact. This ripple effect goes beyond the classroom – if children are safe and cared for, daily life at home becomes more manageable. “Early childhood development is part of Natural Selection’s efforts to support local communities and expand education opportunities for the children,” explains Sandra Rubins, our Community Outreach Manager. “When children grow up surrounded by this kind of steady, human care, they begin to believe in their own worth. And that belief changes everything.” Through the Natural Selection Foundation and our lodges, support for early childhood development continues to grow – just like the baobabs: slowly, deeply, and with quiet optimism. When you offer children safety, love, and a chance to wonder – you help them to not only grow, but flourish. And when they flourish, so does the community as a whole.
We are committed to conservation through community and believe that thriving ecosystems start with thriving people. Our support of education, food security, and healthcare initiatives remains part of a broader vision to build resilience, dignity, and opportunity in the places we call home. If you’d like to make a donation towards our early childhood development initiatives please click here or email info@naturalselectionfoundation.org