Thousands of local children took part in more than 500 programmes that the City of Cape Town’s Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department hosted daily at City community centres, sports fields and resorts across the Cape Town during the winter holidays.
Indoor activities included board games, gymnastics, rope skipping, karate, pool, poetry and drama, concerts, indigenous games, cultural dances and fitness training, Hip Hop dancing, sports and fitness activities, talent shows and arts and crafts.
Outdoor activities included, five-a-side soccer, mini-netball, basketball, cricket, hockey, big walks, fun runs, playing on a jumping castle, face painting, jumping on a trampoline, touch rugby and various recreational activities and family fun festivals.
Approximately 85 children between the ages of six and 16 were accounted for per venue every day, which translates to more than 40 000 children being engaged and entertained over the 15 days.
Each of the six districts within the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department made use of volunteers to ensure all the programmes were effectively implemented. The department’s goal was to encourage children from communities throughout Cape Town to participate in sport, recreation and special events not only during the school holidays but also in future.
The City regards sport and recreation as an important tool – contributing not only to youth development, but also to the development of communities and fostering social cohesion. The holiday programmes are used as a tool that can be utilised to help rebuild communities and bring about fundamental and sustainable change. They create an opportunity for children from all districts and communities to interact with each other in a fun, non-competitive environment.
