During the era of Apartheid's forced removals, indigenous populations were displaced and confined to council flats or plateaus. These residential areas became highly congested, leaving little room for the organic freedom of childhood. Before these forced relocations, indigenous people lived connected to the land, appreciating the interconnectedness between the waterways, mountains, and landscapes. Unfortunately, these once-natural havens have now been transformed into cities and towns, exclusively accessible to the privileged few. The majority of the remaining natural spaces in South Africa are under governmental ownership, making them largely inaccessible to the general population. In the council estate, there are no trees, and residents, typically descendants of the people displaced in forced removals, live on top of each other in concrete flats.

Nature gives young people a sense of belonging. It is an alternative remedy to the lack of identity and belonging that many children experience, a remedy much safer and more productive than gangsterism. In the Silent Knowledge program, participants learn to use the benefits, to preserve, and to be a part of nature. Because Cape Town is seen as a tourist destination, much natural space is controlled, so inordinate amounts of children don’t get the chance to reconnect with nature. Silent Knowledge is about reclaiming these spaces and reconnecting with culture and indigenous identity as the Aboriginal people of South Africa. 

In the Silent Knowledge program, we play, learn, and conserve in the natural space that is available. Immersion in nature provides a sense of belonging and identity to participants who had previously hoped to find these in gangs.