It's Mother's Day on 13 May. Here's a touching story recounted by Mark Gamble on what it's like to be 'mother'. Mark works for Educo Africa, a non-profit organisation that helps to improve the quality of life for people living in disadvantaged communities.

A young girl discovers new hope on a trip into the mountains along with education group Educo Africa.

How do you teach someone to appreciate nature, when their biggest concern is finding their next meal? By Alex Eppel. 

Stephanie Gobin is a Canadian who is working for Educo Africa on a year-long contract. The programme helps to improve the quality of life for people living in disadvantaged communities. Stephanie takes a trip to the Groot Winterhoek Mountains and tells us what it's like to work with the South African team.

On a wilderness course in the Cederberg Mountains, Mark Gamble sees that nature can stoke "the fire in the belly", the inner strength that helps us weather tough times.

Vicovia Nzimela (Vicky) is a trainee facilitator who has been working with Educo Africa for the last year.  Her work involves taking youth into the mountains in order to help them to deal with issues such as conflict resolution, problem solving and developing personal vision. 

The Mountains have a way of calming the mind. A group of HIV postive youths discover just how healing the mountains of the Groot Winterhoek Nature Reserve can be.

The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, situated about 120 km from Cape Town, provides a great backdrop to practise photography as these grade 11 students discover. Blog by Mark Gamble.

It's a rewarding job, but only when there is a success story. Mark Gamble works for Educo Africa helping to improve the quality of life for people living in disadvanged communities. Nature plays an important role in the programme and time spent in the mountains often brings great rewards.