East London school teacher encouraged students to contemplate social and environmental issues and paint them on pebbles; now the school is using them for a pathway.
East London, South Africa – Chay Bacher from the Merrifield College in East London taught her students an important message on Mandela Day this year. This year she asked each student to pick an environmental or social issue that they wanted to highlight to South Africans.
The students worked hard on their pebbles, and now the school is honouring their efforts by using them to create a beautiful peace pathway.
“South Africa needs a lot more good news these days, so the Grade 7 and 8 Life Orientation classes painted Peace Pebbles for Mandela Day.
They had to choose a social or environmental issue that they feel needs attention in our country. Then they needed to send a message of peace about it using their pebble. They rocked it!
From Stopping gun violence to saving our Rhinos, to LGBTQ rights to creating unity, to keeping our oceans beautiful and acting on climate change urgency – these students care so much!” – Chay Bacher
Students are becoming more conscientious of global and local issues, so seeing them being taught to speak out at a school level, it’s truly inspiring. Teacher Chay Bacher is equally passionate about making the world a better place and is always doing something helpful for her community.
In her personal time, she advocates for animal rights and the environment. The student’s pebbles are beautiful and will make for a stunning feature in the school. But it is the message these pebbles share that is most important. When their pathway to peace is completed, students will be able to meander along the path and contemplate the various social and environmental issues the world currently faces.
Who knows, the solution to all of them could very well be locked in the mind of a bright young student who just needs to see them laid out to take action.
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