Our Voice, our future, Stories of hope to bring change

What if the most important investment we could make in our children wasn't inside the classroom, but outside it?

In this episode of Our Voice, Our Future, powered by Breadline Africa, host Kelly Morkel sits down with Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews to explore how urban planning can become one of the most powerful tools for improving early childhood development and creating stronger communities.

From safe walking routes and accessible green spaces to neighbourhoods where Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and schools become community anchors, this conversation examines how the places children grow up influence the adults they become.

The discussion also highlights Cape Town's efforts to strengthen the ECD sector, including support for more than 2,600 ECD centres and initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to registration and improving access for families.

Together, Kelly and Deputy Mayor Andrews unpack the role of government, communities, civil society and the private sector in creating child-friendly cities that are safer, healthier and more inclusive.

Whether you're a parent, educator, policymaker, urban planner or community leader, this episode offers practical insights into why designing cities for children means designing a better future for everyone.

Research & Articles

UNICEF South Africa – Early Childhood Development
https://www.unicef.org/southafrica


Children's Institute, University of Cape Town – South African Child Gauge
https://ci.uct.ac.za


Department of Basic Education – Early Childhood Development
https://www.education.gov.za



Cape Town Today – Building the Future: Cape Town's Drive to Transform Early Childhood Development
https://capetown.today/news/building-the-future-cape-towns-drive-to-transform-early-childhood-development

What if the laptop gathering dust in your office storeroom could become a child’s gateway to learning? In this episode of Our Voice, Our Future, we explore the powerful intersection of digital inclusion, education equity, and sustainability with Karin Boomsma, circular economy strategist and sustainability advocate from DigiCircle4All and TheRockGroup.

We unpack how circular technology solutions are helping to bridge both the digital divide and the opportunity divide, transforming retired corporate devices into educational tools while creating skills development and employment pathways for young people trained in device refurbishment.

Articles

Circular Economy & E-Waste

Digi Circlel 4 all

DigiCircle4all resource

World Economic Forum – A New Circular Vision for Electronics

https://www.weforum.org

Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Circular Economy and Electronics

https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

UNICEF – Digital Learning and the Education Divide

https://www.unicef.org

OECD – Bridging the Digital Divide in Education

https://www.oecd.org

South African Government – E-Waste and Digital Inclusion Policies

https://www.gov.za

Our Voice, Our Future (Powered by Breadline Africa)

Season 2 Episode 1: The Inner World of Young Minds in a Noisy World

In today’s fast-moving, overstimulated world, childhood is changing.

In this episode of Our Voice, Our Future, host Kayang Gagiano, Chief Partnerships Officer at The Reach Trust, is joined by Lisa Voortman, Co-Founder of Grow ECD, to explore the emotional lives of young children growing up in increasingly “noisy” environments.

From digital overload and social comparison to bullying and emotional safety, this conversation unpacks how modern pressures shape early childhood and what caregivers, educators, and communities can do to create calmer, more nurturing spaces where children can truly thrive.

Resources & Further Reading

Grow ECD: https://www.growecd.org.za

Breadline Africa: https://breadlineafrica.org

The Reach Trust: https://www.thereachtrust.org/

Produced by Creafluence Pty Ltd

The season opens with a deeply personal exploration of childhood in the modern age.

Today’s children are growing up in environments filled with constant stimulation, digital noise, social comparison, emotional pressure, and rapid change. Beneath the surface, many are quietly asking questions they don’t yet have the language to express: Am I safe? Am I seen? Do I belong?

This episode steps into that inner world.

We explore how anxiety, overstimulation, exclusion, and bullying shape emotional development, not always through overt harm, but often through silence, disconnection, and unmet needs for belonging.

Guest:

Kayang Gagiano, Chief Partnerships Officer at The Reach Trust

Lia Voortman, Co-Founder and Director of Grow ECD

In this recap episode of Our Voice, Our Future, we reflect on one of the most inspiring conversations of the season, our discussion with ocean adventurer, heart surgery survivor and founder of The Little Optimist Trust, Greg Bertish.

Greg’s story reminds us that dreaming is not just about imagining a different future; it is about choosing hope, even in the most difficult moments. After spending nearly 200 days in hospital fighting a life-threatening illness, Greg rebuilt his life through courage, purpose and a deep connection to the ocean.

In this episode recap, we revisit the powerful themes from our conversation: resilience in the face of adversity, the healing power of the sea, and how one person’s dream can create real change for thousands of children.

We also look back at how Greg turned his experiences into the beloved Little Optimist children’s books and a movement that is bringing sailing therapy, optimism and educational support to under-resourced schools and hospitals across South Africa.

At its heart, this episode reminds us that when children are given hope, opportunity and imagination, their futures can change.

If you believe in the power of dreaming big and helping the next generation do the same, this recap is one to listen to.

Learn more about Greg’s work:


🌊 www.thelittleoptimist.org

Support the work of Breadline Africa:


📚 www.breadlineafrica.org