Rhodes students – many who were not in town on Mandela Day on 18 July – had an opportunity to contribute their 67 minutes to society through the “Fun for Children” event on Wednesday 27 July.
Rhodes students – many who were not in town on Mandela Day on 18 July – had an opportunity to contribute their 67 minutes to society through the “Fun for Children” event on Wednesday 27 July.
Rhodes University Community Engagement Office, in partnership with the Centre for Social Development (CSD), organised the event at the Extension 9 Community Hall.
The decision to make it a children’s event enabled a number of different student societies and university groupings to be involved in activities of their choice. Julie-Anne Lothian of the university's community engagement office also said, “Every child deserves to sometimes just be a child and have fun, especially those who live with hardship every day.”
Vuyani Zondani, the project co-ordinator for the Mandela Day activities, invited proposals for participation from a range of different groups on campus. Zondani also collaborated with community group Sakhuluntu, who operate an after-care project from the hall.
Preschools from Extension 9 were invited to send along their children for a couple of hours of fun.
Several different colourful activity stations were set up around the large hall. With the help of the student volunteers, children were able to draw, paint, cut, glue, build puzzles, play with construction toys and generally get creative. Other children had lovely story books read to them from the comfort of soft cushions in the reading corners.
On the verandah, Basil Mills and his colleague from the National English Literary Museum held a group of Grade R children spellbound with their enactment of a story, while out in the sunshine, a CSD facilitator entertained a circle of children with a game.
A jumping castle, a puppeteer with giant puppets, and face-painting were some of the other fun activities that kept the hall buzzing with activity all afternoon.
The CSD provided equipment, games and staff, while the Inkwenkwezi Society, Drumsoc, the SRC and staff from the Rhodes Human Resources Department also helped make the day a success.
Although it was just for a day, Di Hornby, Director of the Rhodes Community Engagement Office, said the event was about the bigger picture.
"It's about realising that we all need to be part of shaping our society. The purpose of the CE office is to create opportunities that will light the fires, as it were, and lead ultimately to every department, residence and individual taking responsibility for this being part of their core business, and of who they are as people. After all, the great man himself said, 'It is in your hands to make a difference'".
