8 YOUTH
PEOPLE'S POST | MITCHELL'S PLAIN Tuesday, 9 July 2013
TERRITORY: School children and unemployed youth ventured through the sand dunes. SANDY TERRITORY:
Tafelsig youth lead the way
Kitted in takkies and sportswear, a large group of Tafelsig teenagers paid a visit to Mother Nature with a trek through the Wolfgat Nature Reserve on Thursday. Leading the group was sport enthusiast Pamela Arendse. This outing formed part of the numerous holiday programmes arranged by
ward councillor Sheval Arendse. “This was one of many hikes that will be happening during the course of the school holidays. “I’ve seen a need for unemployed youth and pupils to enjoy the nature reserve and beautiful coastline on their doorstep,” he says.
GETTING IT RIGHT: A group of baseball players mentored the young children throughout the game. GETTING
Sporting chance for for young youngst sters ers
Efforts to keep the youth of Strandfontein off Our sporting coaches of the various Strandthe streets during the holidays has been fontein sports teams have also sacrificed of their time to mentor the lauded a success. youth throughout the day,” Children recently particihe says. pated in a sport and skills deIgshaan Carstens of the velopment holiday proStrandfontein Rugby Club gramme where the young hopes the holiday proones had the opportunity to gramme will become a regube coached in rugby, baselar event on the sporting calball, softball, soccer and endar. cricket during the three-day “Maybe next time we programme hosted at the could extend the programme Strandfontein Sports Field. and host the children for two Hundreds of children days a week, every week,” he flocked to the field to enjoy a suggests. day of fun sporting activities Quinn says it is with the organised by the local Facilihelp of the City of Cape ty Management Committee. Town’s Department of Chairperson of the comSports and Recreation and mittee Robert Quinn says the three months of planning COLOURFUL: OLOURFUL: Danika September the provincial Department has paid off. (7) enjoyed having her face of Social Development that “We organised local sports transformed into a colourful the active event was possiheroes to coach the children. canvas.. PHOTOS: LAILA MAJIET ble.
Play and learn learn GEARED UP: The group of Tafelsig teenagers were keen to put their best foot forward. GEARED
OUT: SashaLeigh Wilcox, Pamela Arendse and Patricia Williams check for snakes as WATCH OUT: the group make their way through the reserve. PHOTOS: SHEVAL ARENDSE AND LAILA MAJIET
BRE BREAK AK TIME: The group took some time out to catch their breath before venturing on.
Pupils at Wavecrest Primary School have started a new chapter. The Grade 1s spent time in the classroom this holidays, working hard at improving their literacy levels. Education NGO Living Through Learning hosted the reading project. The holiday programme is part of a Foundation Phase literacy campaign run by the organisation. Aimed at improving the literacy levels of primary school pupils, the long-term project provides children with fun and interactive tools to improve their reading skills. Facilitator Leila Walters says this approach enables young children to learn how to read and write in a playful environment. The holiday programme was held to assist children who score between 50% and 60% in literacy. “In 2012, we facilitated a similar holiday program at Greenlands Primary School in Bishop Lavis. We saw a major spike in pupils’ academic performance. We try to make learning fun by incorporating games and playing, something that not many curriculums incorporate.
KEEPING BUSY: Hayley Blake adores creating different shapes with dough. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED “We present the work in such a way that the children don’t even realise they are working. As a result, much of the learning takes place without pupils losing interest,” Walters says. Wavecrest Primary School is one of nine schools in Cape Town which participates in the project.
HEAPS OF FUN: Facilitator Leila Walters guides the pupils through their activities. HEAPS