SAS SALDANHA Assists with Annual Kids Holiday Program Article and photos by S Lt R.B. Grootboom Enquiries: 021 787 4697

How many of you have ever heard someone saying “…the youth of today is the future of tomorrow…”? I’m sure there is nobody who hasn’t at some stage in their life heard these words being uttered. Some could even say it’s a cliché, but cliché’s are often there for the simple reason that it has some truth to it.

Since the youth of today are in fact the future of South Africa tomorrow, it is important to cultivate them into creative and innovative thinkers able to one day lead this nation and develop breakthrough medicines or who knows, even become the new “King of Pop”.

The Kids Holiday Program banner

At present all of this is of course very hypothetical, but just think about the difference you can make in a child’s life by simply being a positive example to him or her. Inspiring and encouraging them to push boundaries or do things that were never possible before. With the future (our children) anything is possible.

Over period 26 – 29 June 2012 SAS SALDANHA assisted the West Coast Community Church with their annual Kids Holiday Program. A week during which children aged 6 – 13 years, from the local Saldanha area are encouraged to dream big and are cultivated into adults that are fearless and confident. Fearless in the knowing that the world is their oyster and all they need to do is to work hard and tap into their inner strength then anything in life is possible for them.

AB Rossouw explaining the rules of the games to the group instructors and kids	AB Steyn enjoying herself with the kids during potted sports

The theme for this year was “Reach for your Dream” and children were encouraged to never give up on their dreams or future aspirations. Chaplain T. Mara from the Military Academy told kids the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10), a short man in the Bible, whose dream was to see Jesus and with perseverance and innovative thinking his dream was realized. With that he concluded to them that God makes the impossible possible.

Chaplain Mara from the Military Academy entertaining the kids with his animated story	Kids aged 5-8 years
Slogans posted around the main hall

Over this four-day period the children had a set program ranging from story time, dancing and playing potted sports. The SAS SALDANHA Physical Training Instructors had their hands full with the kids who jumped around and ran like it was the Olympics. The week was a successful venture and children walked away knowing that there are people out there in the community who care about their well being and who want to see them succeed.

The program coordinator Cillian O'Neil with some of her team members and kids attending the program