Summer is here, and I keep thinking about Matau in Zimbabwe, where my roots are firmly grounded. Nearly two years ago, Oprah gave me an incredible gift to help the children in my home village blossom into educated and inspirational adults. Today, we are nearing a rebirth and renewal in this little pocket of Africa, and in the garden of my heart.

Mothers, father, teachers, brothers, sisters – have all come together with Save the Children to feed the minds and cultivate growth in learning among the youngest seedlings. Extraordinary things can happen when you put the right tools in the hands of communities. They flourish. There is so much exciting news to share.

It begins with smiling and laughing preschoolers, pushing each other higher and higher on the swings. Two years ago, there were no playgrounds in these rural villages. Through the education project, communities are learning how to build safe playgrounds with local materials provided by the villagers themselves. Two playgrounds have already been constructed.

Play is good for children. It helps them grow and learn important skills, and it is fun. It is wonderful to see the joy on the children’s faces in these photos. Their smiles are contagious.

Dr. Tererai Trent