Heritage Day - What If They Always Knew?

By Kelly Eyre, Quality and Pedagogy Lead, Dibber South Africa

““In South Africa, 24 September is more than a date on a calendar. It is an invitation to remember who we are, where we come from, and how we carry that forward—through love, language, and the little eyes watching us grow.

“If you’re raising a child between the ages of 0 and 6, you’ll know: these years are not small. They are sacred.

“At Dibber, we often speak about raising children with a heart for the world. This is more than kindness. It’s about raising children who look at the world with wonder, compassion, and open arms.

“But to raise a child with a heart for the world, we must first raise a child who knows they are valued.

“Imagine if every child knew—deeply knew—that they mattered. That their name carries history. That their skin tells a story. That their voice deserves space. That their quietness is not something to ‘grow out of’ and their loudness not something to dim. That their way of moving, learning, feeling… is not just accepted, but celebrated.

“Imagine if that child grew up never having to question whether they belonged.

“That is what Heart Culture means. And that is what Heritage Day could mean: not only dressing up or sharing recipes, but reminding our children that difference is not something to survive—it is something to treasure.

“Heritage lives in the songs we sing, the stories that begin with ‘When I was your age…’, and the languages we pass on or relearn with pride. It also lives in how we treat one another, how we speak about those who are not like us, and how we answer our children’s questions about colour, accent, ability, beliefs, and identity. Because they will ask, and they will remember our answers.

“Heritage is not only what we pass down. It is also what we choose to stop passing down.

“So maybe this Heritage Day, we light a fire—but also light up a conversation. We dress up—but also undress our own assumptions. We serve our grandmother’s stew—but also tell stories of resilience, inclusion, and healing.

“One day, our children will ask: ‘What did Heritage Day mean when I was little?’

“And may we be able to say: ‘It meant you were never too young to know you belong. It meant we were brave enough to talk about what makes us different, and gentle enough to hold that difference with care. It meant that even if the world wasn’t always fair, your family chose to lead with love.’

“You’re not just raising a child. You’re shaping how they see the world—and themselves within it.

“What if they always knew they belonged? If the way you loved them—fiercely, honestly, wholeheartedly—became their heritage? That would be something sacred.”