These superheroes and fairytale characters added some colour to the day. From left: Kevin Arries, Amelia King, Lizelle Appels, Renaldo Markgraaff, Trudy-Ann Marais, Naizel Buys and Chadlee Mohammed.

WILDERNESS NEWS – The ‘Samewerking vir ‘n beter gemeenskap’ group hosted a child and youth festival on the Touwsranten sports field on Youth Day, 16 June, attracting over 700 people from Touwsranten and the broader rural community.

The purpose of the project was to encourage positive relationships between children, their parents and elderly community members.

“By encouraging these relationships, we aimed to actively involve parents in activities. The intention of the day was to give children the opportunity to play and have fun. Enabling children to do so allows them to create happy memories, especially those living in difficult circumstances,” says Wilmi Dippenaar, director of the Seven Passes Initiative.

The day was supported by several role players in the community: the Saps, Community Police Forum, different sport clubs, Sonneblom Crèche, Youth on Fire, Twizza, Seven Passes Initiative and their Touwsrhythm drummers, Walking Bus as well as community members who individually volunteered as part of the ‘Samewerking’ (Collaboration) group. The party held on the day was funded by the World Childhood Foundation.

Fun activities for the day included face painting, jumping castles, an entertainment corner, motivational speeches, drumming, cartoon characters, netball, soccer, a march with drummies through the community, dancing and boeresport.

Furthermore breakfast, lunch and party packs were provided to everyone who attended.

The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it is hoped that great memories were created. The ‘Samewerking’ group sincerely thank the World Childhood Foundation for their unwavering support of their precious children.