Mtwalume non-profit wins bronze at Eco-Logic awards
Thanda sees sustainability as part of everyday family and community life.
Local non-profit Thanda won bronze in the Eco-Community category at the 2026 Eco-Logic Awards, recognising its work to integrate sustainability into local ECD centres and collective food production.
Thanda’s hyper-local programmes, developed over almost two decades, connect children’s learning environments with hands-on approaches to farming, food security and the responsible use of natural resources, while also supporting families to apply these principles at home and alongside their neighbours.
Angela Larkan, Executive Director and Co-Founder, said Thanda sees sustainability as part of everyday family and community life.
“We’re delighted to receive bronze and to be among so many inspiring people and organisations doing incredible work across the country. The opportunity to raise the profile of our organisation with potential partners and contribute to the wider sustainability conversation, while highlighting the programmes making a difference in Mtwalume, is so encouraging,” she said.
“Ultimately, sustainable change comes from working alongside communities to find practical approaches that make sense in their local context. We’re grateful to the judges for acknowledging this work and the importance of locally-led approaches to sustainability.”
Thanda’s Eco-ECD centre at Umkhumbini in Mtwalume combines climate-resilient design and early childhood education. Designed to operate off-grid, the centre connects water, energy, food production and waste management as part of one system. These are not separate from the learning experience.
Children learn through their interaction with the natural environment and the systems that sustain the centre, exploring how food is grown, how resources are used and how living things depend on one another. The approach reflects Thanda’s belief that quality ECD should nurture curiosity, connect learning to everyday life and help children understand their place in the wider world.
Through its Food Security & Economic Development programmes, Thanda works with smallholder and household farmers across five wards, supporting food production and income generation. Farmers explore practical agroecological approaches that draw on local knowledge and available resources, while considering soil health, water use and the wider farming environment.
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