In a bid to keep school children safe during the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup the New Apostolic Church in the Western Cape will be hosting a Winter School Programme in the province and they are calling on the community to assist. "As we know there is going to be extended mid year school holidays this year because of the Soccer World Cup so the children are going to be at home," said Apostle Brian de Vries, spokesperson for the program.
"We know that not all parents and guardians are able to take of their children as the school holiday is for about 5 weeks. This prompted us to run a Winter School Programme. We also know that not all parents have the finances to get a caregiver to look after their children."
He explained that in the area of Mitchells Plain there are not sufficient facilities for children to play. "Children in certain areas especially in Mitchells Plain they have no safe place to play are security is not sufficient. We want to keep them off the street. We designed a programme which will do just that. The programme will involve teachers, volunteers from the community, parents who are at home and spiritual leaders."
Open to all
De Vries said the Winter School Programme is not limited to members of the New Apostolic Church. "The leaders of each congregation can invite anyone or organization from the community that is not necessarily a member of our church to attend the programme. But they have to give us their name; we will then send them an indemnity that needs to completed by their parents to say that they are placing their children in our care over that period of time," he said.
According to the Apostle, the leaders in the various congregations will alert the schools in the area to the programme. "We are trying via the rector of each congregation to get in touch with all the schools in the community. Everyone is involved in this programme. We will also try to get the message across via our children to the principles. On the 11 June the programme will kick in," he said.
Some of the activities which will be offered to the children include Arts and Crafts, a readathon, drug awareness programme, and a programme on HIV/AIDS as well as a fun and games day. "It took a long time for us to work out a programme of activities for the children. We decided to go into three categories which are activities at church, other venues and activities at home," he said.
According to De Vries, the parents will be asked to pack a lunch box for their children but on certain days we will provide a meal for kids. "Children love to eat so somehow we have to cater for them. We can't obviously give elaborate meals but we will be having a soup kitchen. We would possible be asking parents to pack in lunch for the children on the one or other day to help us," said De Vries.
Orginal Article can be found at: www.vocfm.co.za
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