There’s a silent crisis unfolding in our classrooms, not among the students, but the educators; teachers across South Africa are showing increased signs of burnout, anxiety, as well as depression and the usual solutions just aren’t cutting it. Community Keepers, a mental health non-profit working in 89 schools nationwide, has revealed in its 2024 Impact Report that educators now urgently need emotional support.From teambuilding games to playful interventions, schools are witnessing a powerful shift, educators laughing, relaxing, and rediscovering their passion; research from Oxford University confirms what many principals are witnessing that when teachers are mentally well, learners thrive too. Community Keepers has brought this to life with a model that creates safe spaces and drastically reduces the overwhelming learner-to-social worker ratio. Their partnerships, including with the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund and global platforms like the Born This Way Foundation, are helping to make emotional wellness a shared priority. Joining us is Gerrit Laning, Chief Executive Officer of Community Keepers