Background
Gaia Waldorf School is a young, innovative Waldorf School situated on a farm in the centre of the metropolis of Cape Town.The school was started in 1998 to meet the popular demand for Waldorf education in the area and comprises a playgroup, 2 kindergartens and a primary school. Our vision is to offer affordable Waldorf education to a broad spectrum of children that reflects the unique and diverse aspects of our South African culture.
The School is situated on Oude Molen Eco Village which survived as an urban open space as part of the barrier between communities during apartheid-style architectural planning. Our school building is part of the original farmhouse complex, built in the late 1700's. Oude Molen is a link between the city's affluent southern suburbs and the Cape Flats, which compromise the impoverished 'townships' of the Apartheid era.
As part of the Oude Molen Eco Village the children have access to the village's myriad workshops, craft businesses and sustainable farming initiatives, which provide a rural ambience for our school.
The future of Gaia was clearly laid down in 2005. The Provincial Administration has passed the necessary legislation to ensure that the School will remain in the newly approved plans for an eco-village at Oude Molen. Gaia is enthusiastic about its role in the plans for the eco-village and confident about the schools future. 2006 Saw the construction of our first timber classroom, which was followed by another in 2007, whereby the first classroom became the playgroup classroom. The second kindergarten in 2008 clearly shows Gaia's growth.
Children frequently enjoy walks around the farm with their teacher. Class 3 continues to enjoy the use of a plot of land in one of the organic gardens. Proud faces have returned to school bearing their produce. The proximity of the horses from Oude Molen Stables is enjoyed by the children and the birth of a new foal causes much excitement. The school has also has the advantage of the use of the Oude Molen swimming pool which provides opportunity for lessons for primary school children during school time. A private instructor is responsible for these lessons.
Our children also have access to horse riding and organic farming. Interaction with the village, and eco-initiatives, along with the rural setting it affords, play an important part in the schools wider curriculum.
