A positive initiative dedicated to children took place at Wedela Community Hall on 11 and 12 December, where the energy was buzzing. Khulisa Social Solutions hosted an impactful school holiday programme for children in the area.

During the course of two consecutive days, 200 children gathered to learn and have fun, as well as gain valuable life skills. The programme, aimed at empowering children to make positive life choices, was made possible by the incredible support of different stakeholders. These included the MASAC team from the Merafong Anti-Substance Abuse Centre, Mr Tsietsi Matlhabane, a health promoter from Wedela Clinic, and the Wedela SAPS GBV Brigades.

The children were split into age-appropriate groups to ensure that the content was relevant and engaging. MASAC facilitated a puppet show that captivated the children while addressing important topics such as bullying and making the right decisions. The interactive nature of the puppet show made learning fun and engaging.

The children learned how to identify bullying behaviours and were encouraged to embrace empathy and kindness. Through the puppets, they learned how to stand up for others, and the performance sparked conversations about kindness, inclusion, and respect. The show’s lively, hands-on approach left a lasting impression, helping the children to internalise these lessons in a way that was enjoyable and memorable.

A narrative therapy dialogue was conducted, focusing on gangsterism prevention. This session encouraged participants to reflect on the negative impact of gangsterism in their lives and their communities. The young people were given a safe space to discuss how life choices influence their future and how to protect themselves from negative influences such as gang involvement.

They were also given an opportunity to reflect on what it would be like to live in a gang-free community. Through guided discussion and self-reflection, the children came up with practical steps to stay safe and make empowered choices for their futures.

A projector was used to present the Heartlines video clip, using age-appropriate language to ensure that children could understand the importance of responsibility and how it applies to their everyday lives. Children engaged in discussions and reflective exercises focused on making responsible decisions at home, at school, and in the community.

The second day was filled with exciting games that combined team-building with valuable lessons. These included puzzles to promote critical thinking and collaboration, a blindfolded ball toss to foster communication and trust, tug of war to emphasise teamwork, strength, and perseverance, and water sponge games for cooling off and building cooperation. These games not only kept the children active but also helped them develop essential life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and mutual respect.

The organisation would like to thank their sponsor, Manzi, for their generous donation of 300 bottles of 500ml water, which were crucial in making the event a success. Their support provided the resources needed to carry out the programme over the two days, enriching the experience for every child involved.

The programme was conducted by Keitumetse Xulu and Bonolo Sedumedi, social service practitioners from Khulisa Social Solutions.