The Starlit Path

🌾 Farm school life • 🌱 Tree planting • 🧸 Community care • 🎓 Early learning •📍Gqeberha, South Africa

Heatherbank Pre & Primary School isn’t flashy—and that’s its strength. Set on a farm in Theescombe in Gqeberha, it has an earthy, grounded feel where children grow up closer to nature and more connected to the world around them. The school is rooted in strong values, guided by Christian principles that shape both learning and character.

I’ve worked with Heatherbank for years, so this isn’t a place I’m just passing through. I filmed a spelling bee promotional video there for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and have made many visits spending time with the kids. Over time, I’ve handed out everything from stationery and ice cream to dress-up apparel for costume parties, and more recently worked with the school counselor to provide teddy bears for children who need extra comfort.

Through my nonprofit, Imbeko, and alongside Rotary, I’ve contributed to projects like an ablution block and classrooms—so in many ways, the school and I go way back. I was recently invited to the opening of their new preschool wing, where instead of cutting a ribbon, we planted trees alongside donors, teachers, and overseas visitors.

Heatherbank runs from Grade 00 to Grade 7, with small classes that allow teachers to truly know their students. It follows the CAPS curriculum, but what stands out most is the care, consistency, and the sense that every child matters. For me, it’s more than a school—it’s a place I’ve come to know and genuinely love.

More on my outreach work in South Africa here.