CHILDREN'S BOOK CREATORS FOR CONSERVATION BRING A SPLASH OF COLOUR AND CREATIVITY
At Wild Tomorrow, our mission to protect and restore threatened wildlife and habitats is deeply connected to the communities surrounding the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve. We believe that conservation is not only about safeguarding ecosystems today, but about inspiring the next generation of nature’s stewards. With this vision in mind, we were honoured to host a unique group of volunteers: the Children’s Book Creators for Conservation (CBCC). Read more about their visit to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in our blog post below!
Their journey was also beautifully captured in Publishers Weekly: CBCC 2025 Trip – A Photo Essay!
The CBCC 2025 team posing in front of their masterpiece at the Thelelulwazi Creche!
A CREATIVE FORCE RETURNS TO ZULULAND
After a successfull first creative trip in 2023, the Children’s Book Creators for Conservation returned again to South Africa for two weeks and immersed themselves in the wildlife, landscapes, and communities of Zululand…a journey that blended creativity with hands-on conservation! Though their professional lives revolve around stories and illustration, their shared passion for protecting the natural world is what brought this group together.
The atmosphere throughout the trip was warm, inspiring, and full of joy. Authors, illustrators, and publishers — many meeting for the first time — quickly formed a fun, dynamic, and deeply connected group. As a very special group of volunteers, they got to work applying their creative skills and talents to our mission, and in particular our community and nature education programs.
A MURAL THAT TELLS A STORY
Kayla Harren, Meg Fleming, Ann Dye, and Hayley Rocco showing off their paint-ridden hands!
During their time in the Mduku community, the CBCC team envisioned and painted a vibrant mural at Thelelulwazi Creche — a joyful and imaginative artwork that instantly transformed the learning space. What was once a blank wall became a tender scene of a rhino cow and calf touching snouts, symbolising protection, love, and hope for the future.
This mural is more than a splash of colour; it is an invitation for children to dream, explore, and feel connected to the wildlife that lives just beyond their village. Dr. Diane shared a wonderful behind-the-scenes look into this creative process: Mural Making at Thelelulwazi Creche.
The mural at Thelelulwazi Creche.
BUILDING A SPACE WHERE BOOKS AND PLAY COME ALIVE
Beyond the mural, the group set to work drilling and installing brand-new bookshelves…a project lovingly begun by the CBCC team and completed by the next group of Wild Tomorrow volunteers in October. A true team effort through and through!
The CBCC team posing with their reading corner masterpiece!
And a special shout-out to our October Conservation Experience Volunteers, Mike and Jillian, for assisting in installing the shelves!
The shelves now frame a charming hand-painted corner featuring a giraffe and a leafy tree — artwork created for the children to enjoy every single day. And with the addition of books written and illustrated by the CBCC volunteers themselves, this reading corner has become a lasting reminder of the impact they made on the young learners of Thelelulwazi Creche.
They also revitalised the children’s jungle gym, transforming it into a bright and joyful place for play.
A colorful upgrade to the children’s play area at the creche!
The work of the CBCC is a powerful echo of Wild Tomorrow’s mission. Just as we restore ecosystems by planting trees and removing old fences, this group planted seeds of inspiration and removed barriers to imagination. By beautifying this place of learning, they have helped foster a love for nature from the very beginning of a child’s educational journey.
A GIFT THAT REACHES FAR BEYOND THE CRECHE!
The impact of the CBCC group extended far beyond paintbrushes and bookshelves. Together, they raised an extraordinary $17,020 for conservation, and the impact of their generosity was something they experienced firsthand throughout their two weeks in Zululand. Their donation supported the very conservation programs they actively participated in — from rhino protection and ranger patrols to habitat restoration and K9 anti-poaching work — making their time with Wild Tomorrow both meaningful and deeply personal. Here’s where some of their donations went, and what they took part in:
Rhino Conservation Support: Their donation funded a rhino horn trimming operation at Manyoni Private Game Reserve — a painless but essential procedure they both helped fund and witness, directly protecting rhinos from poaching.
Rhino Orphanage Support: They assisted with feeding and caring for orphaned calves at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage and contributed financially to help sustain the centre’s critical work.
Ranger Salaries: Their contribution supported ranger salaries, and the group joined these rangers on snare patrols, seeing firsthand the difficult work of protecting wildlife.
Green Mambas & Habitat Restoration: They helped fund the salaries of the Green Mambas, Wild Tomorrow’s all-women conservation team, and worked alongside them clearing invasive plants and restoring the rare sand forest.
K9 Anti-Poaching Units: They supported both the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and Project Rhino K9 Units, meeting the dogs and handlers and delivering essential equipment to strengthen anti-poaching efforts.
Ongoing Data Collection: They assisted with data collection including our monthly bird banding survey.
These experiences grounded their creative work in real conservation action and gave each member a deeper understanding of the wildlife and habitats they often write or illustrate about. The impact they made — and the impressions Zululand left on them — will stretch far beyond their two weeks in South Africa!
STORIES FOR A WILD TOMORROW
The group also donated published and signed books to both the Silethukukhanya and Thelelulwazi Creches, as well as the Wild Tomorrow Conservation Centre’s library. Through these stories — and through the colour, care, and inspiration they left behind — the CBCC team has created a legacy far greater than paint and pages!
We extend our deepest gratitude to founders John and Hayley Rocco, returning author Meg Fleming, and the new creators Ann, Brenda, Diane, Juana, Kayla, Leah, and Molly for joining us and supporting Wild Tomorrow’s work protecting wildlife and wild places!
Your legacy is one of colour, story, and hope, and it will inspire the young hearts of our community for many years to come.