The official opening of the Sensory STEM garden at the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus took place on Friday. Prof Themba Mosia, acting vice-principal along with Prof Ntebogeng Mokgalaka-Fleischmann, MBA, Pr. Sci. Nat. planted two fruit trees during the festivities. The project is the brainchild of a team of individuals whose dedication has brought this garden to fruition. Dr Dr Carin Combrinck from the Department of Architecture, Helga Lister, the driving force behind the Siyathemba Clinic in Mamelodi, and Lelanie Smith from the Community-based Project Module (JCP) within the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT, are the masterminds behind this endeavour.

Several other collaborators have also participated in the project. The SA-HEN grant provided vital support in the initial stages of the project, facilitating the training of 28 Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners. The sensory STEM garden has become an invaluable resource for students from the Department of Health Science, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT and ECD students, providing a platform for ECD practitioner training. In addition, the garden's integration into the Extended Curriculum Programme has added a layer of enrichment to the academic offerings. An upcoming storytelling project jointly presented by the University of Pretoria Merensky Library and Mamelodi Library promises to captivate the senses and imagination.

The garden is envisioned as a dynamic space for interdisciplinary research, catering to learners in the ECD phase, individuals with special educational needs, and the elderly. The immersive sensory environment will benefit all of them. To amplify the impact of this space, students from all disciplines are invited to channel their creativity into projects that empower the local community. The sponsors, including the US-SA-HEN grant, the University of Pretoria Merensky Library (Christine Nel), and the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, are thanked for their unwavering support in making this endeavour a reality. Dr. Martina Jordaan, Solomon Makganelisa, and Jack Thobakgale are acknowledged for their dedicated efforts in maintaining the garden on the Mamelodi campus