Building and renovating education centres from Early Child Development (ECD) to adult education.

1. Eco Education Centre​, Diepsloot Ext 4, Gauteng​

The project site commenced July 2025​. Details of the Eco Education site: ​

The project site commenced July 2025​. Details of the Eco Education site: ​

  • Total Site Area: 2500 m2

  • 9 Eco Buildings

  • 1 ECD Centre Creche/Kindergarten (size 108m2)

  • 2 Khensani’s Collection extra lesson school (size 144m2)

  • 3 Adult Vocational Training Centre (size 120m2)

  • 4-6 Storerooms x 3

  • 7-8 Security Rooms x 2

  • 9 Sickbay

  • 8 x concrete toilets provided by Rotary Morningside

  • Community gardens

The Community

Making a difference in Diepsloot by demonstrating we care about their community. Financial upliftment and inclusion by participation.

  • Approx. 50 jobs yearly to be created through vocational training focused on providing skill training for men and women, as well as the youth

  • Community gardening and education impacting approx. 400 families

  • 30 jobs created during the construction process

  • Over 2000 people will be involved in plastic recycling and Eco brick making awareness workshops

Education

Access to better quality education​. About 200 children will benefit from:

  • ECD Centre Age 1-5 will access the (Early Child Development) Creche/Kindergarten

  • Khensani Grade 1-12: Extra lessons​ Grade 8-12: Technology training (Robotics, AI, Coding training) ​

    ​

Adult Skills Development Centre

Training in Carpentry

  • Development of skills in carpentry that will provide employment​

  • Making wooden items for sale ​

  • Training in setting up their own small businesses

Sewing and Dress Making

  • Teaching sewing skills that will provide employment and providing clothes for their families

  • Making clothing items to sale

  • Training in setting up their own small businesses

The Environment

Environmental Sustainability Contribution ​

  • The centre will use 200,000 Eco bricks
  • Diverting 121 tons of waste plastic from the landfills
  • Eco bricks are collected by schools and from the local community cleanups
  • 110 tCO2 emission will be saved from the environment
  • Rain Water harvesting from the roofs

  • Solar powered, 10kW system

Support Us

If you like the work we’re doing, consider supporting us with time or finances.

Eco-brick ECD school (Greater Are You, Diepsloot Ext 6)

  • 180 m2 area, consisting of 5 rooms​
  • 42 000 eco-bricks​
  • 23 tons waste plastic removed from environment ​
  • Classroom block accommodates 100 students

Building with Eco Bricks foundations

Foundations are dug and steel mesh inserted to provide structure and support. Cement brick pillars are used for support. UBS sheeting for dampproof and steel mesh for slab laid Dampproof and REf​

Using Eco Bricks in construction ​

Eco bricks are used to build all the walls of the building, including boundary walls.

Collecting Eco bricks and filling them with plastic waste

Saving our environment by removing 2L plastic bottles from our communities. Partnering with the Earthly Touch Foundation ​Eco-brick are collected by schools and our communities. All the eco bricks are checked and weighed by Earthly Touch volunteers.

  • Participating schools collect and fill eco bricks, with plastic waste to 560g

  • Earthly Touch truck collects them when they have a set quantity of eco bricks

  • Lonehill Residence Association (LRA) has collection bins at all parks

  • Shopping canters are also encouraged to have collection points

Safety and Compliance 

  • The Global Ecobrick Alliance (GEA) has developed best practices for making Ecobricks and for building with Ecobricks so that constructions are safe and securely built for a long time.

  • A 3hrs burn on timelapse Fire Resistance Test was carried out and filmed by Tarryn Jolly from the AA Travelling toes production Dec 2019, as per the video.

  • Construction partner CHERITH Projects Chairman Colin Ekman, with his former company Innovation Contractors, was accredited with NHBRC and employs qualified construction workforce.

Other Donations / Our Needs

Time

  • Making of Eco Bricks

  • Getting your company or​ school to participate in the ​ making of Eco Bricks

  • Organizing a visit to Diepsloot to assist in painting or building

Money

  • Make a once off donation

  • Instruct your bank to issue a debit order to Cherith Projects

  • Talk to your Company, Church or School to help make a difference in Diepsloot by supporting Cherith with a donation

Building Materials​ and equipment

  • Cement bags

  • Building sand​

  • Stone​

  • River sand​

  • Fencing ​

  • Steel mesh​

  • Gutters for rain capture

  • Furniture for the classrooms​

  • Sewing Machines​

  • Carpentry machinery​

  • Gardening equipment​

  • Jojo Tanks​

  • Stationery

You Can Make a Difference in Diepsloot

Colin Ekman​ (Chairman)

Pastor Setumo Dlothi (Vice Chairman)

Cherith Projects’ registration number: 2021/939657/8​

Directors: Chairman Colin Ekman, Vice Chairman Pastor Setumo Dloti, Horticulture Dr Cary Goodwin, ​Legal Matters Amanda Fischer, Children’s Pastor & Creative Lisa Ekman, New Project Foreman Pastor Admore, Secretary Jill Battle.​

Banking Details​

Cherith Projects
Bank: Nedbank
Account Number:
122 233 6448
Branch: 198765
Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ

Get Involved

Get in touch to donate time, resources and skills.

Cherith Projects is a Non-profit Organisation (Registration No. 2021/939657/08).
Donations are tax deductible in South Africa and a tax certificate (Ref. 18A) can be issued.

Bank Details

Cherith Projects
Bank: Nedbank
Account Number:
122 233 6448
Branch: 198765
Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ

Needs

  • Bulk Compost and seedlings

  • Building/River/Plaster Sand

  • Training Community Members

  • Water for Gardens

  • Plumbing Supplies

  • 2 Litre Ecobricks

  • Cement