THE season of giving may be over, but it has left a lasting impression on the young residents of George Hill informal settlement in Sydenham.

Children as young as three were recently treated to a festive season celebration at Gordon Road Park, hosted by the Florida Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) in partnership with eThekwini Municipality’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“It was amazing. I had a good time,” said six-year-old Aphe Mtolo. “We had pizza, played games and jumped on the jumping castle. I loved it, and we got gifts to take home.”

Community elder Thami Mzobe, who accompanied the children, expressed gratitude to the municipality and Florida UIP for giving the youngsters an unforgettable experience.

Also Read: Musgrave’s Sydenham Bridge sports fresh look

“It was truly an amazing day for them,” said Mzobe. “When the department approached us with the idea, we immediately agreed. Many of these children do not often get the chance to celebrate Christmas or enjoy the festive spirit.”

Mzobe explained that children in the settlement have limited opportunities to play in safe recreational spaces. “They do not get out much and don’t have a safe environment where they can go and play. When this opportunity came, we could not say no,” he said.

Although not all children could attend, those who did were treated to what Mzobe described as “a gift of a lifetime”. “They got to experience a different lifestyle and truly enjoyed themselves. Hopefully, this will be the first of many such events. The children deserved the opportunity to see what the world can offer them, beyond what they see every day,” he added.

Activities on the day included a snake-handling educational talk, a visit to a mobile museum, sip-and-paint sessions, games, and time on the jumping castle.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here