In an effort to incorporate children – the future of this country – in
the 10 years of democracy celebrations, the Early Learning Resource Unit (Elru)
in Lansdowne is gearing up for a unique sporting event that will have
children and adults from all over the Western Cape coming together,
playing together.
Elru is a research and development agency which was established 26
years ago and specialises in early childhood development. The organisation
works in under-resourced communities across Southern Africa in both urban
and rural communities.
"The idea is to simulate the Olympic Games, which recently took place
in Athens, in a child friendly, fun-filled way. And in the year that South
Africa celebrates 10 years of democracy, what better way to get
communities together, than by getting children, the future of the this
country, to come together to interact, play and learn from each other. The
Kiddies’ Olympics can be a valuable nation-building tool," says Andre
Manuel, Elru’s head of marketing.
The Kiddies’ Olympics aims to create an opportunities for different
communities to come together and interact with each other; and to provide
an opportunity for children who have very little opportunity for
recreational activity to experience group and individual games and sports.
Elru is looking to attract children aged three to nine years to take
part in the event which will include fun activities such as a readathon,
obstacle courses, races, field events and much more. There will be clowns,
magicians, climbing walls, music entertainment and food on sale.
Elru is appealing to schools, educare centers and other organisations
working with children to nominate learners aged three to nine years to
participate in the first ever Elru Kiddies’ Olympics.
The Kiddies’ Olympics, a definite highlight of the September school
holiday programme, takes place at Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone on
Tuesday October 5 from 9am to 1pm.
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