Kids aged 6 to 13 in Cape Town，South Africa，really do dig learning at school! With the help of the Earthchild Project，which is offered in schools in two townships，students make worm（蠕虫）farms. The worms break down food waste and make the soil richer. Kids grow seedlings（幼苗）in containers and learn about the importance of good nutrition.
The school programme also offers yoga（瑜 伽）. Teachers find that the exercises help students focus better. The students enjoy Earthchild activities."The children get so excited，"says teacher Vuyelwa Rola.
"The society we are in has a lot of noise. When students are taking part in the Earthchild Project，they feel calm."
Director Janna Kretzmar came up with the idea for the project in 2005. She read about schools in India that involved kids in yoga and learning outside the classroom. She developed the Earthchild Project to offer similar activities in Cape Town schools.
"We hope the Earthchild Project can help students find solutions to all the challenges they are facing in the world today，"Kretzmar said."The best place to create change is with the youth，through education."
The Earthchild Project combines schoolwork with hiking，gardening，healthy living，and yoga."We need more than just math and science to become happy，healthy，inspired，and active citizens of our communities，"says Kretzmar.
In some communities in Cape Town，children live in poverty. They must walk long distances to get clean drinking water. Life is hard. But according to the Earthchild Project's Carly Appleby，the project works to give hope to every child. "Students who have hope，"she says，"aim for bigger goals."
