In Cape Town, the Easter holiday signaled the years first extracurricular enrichment trip with Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA). Over four days from 29th March – 1 April The Happy Africa Foundation, in partnership with African Impact, planned two unforgettable experiences for the children. Students in Grades R-3 explored Boulders Beach to observe the African penguin colony in a protected natural environment, and Grades 4-7 went snorkeling and learned about sea life, water safety and ocean conservation over two days with support from an organization called I Am Water.
The Grade R-3 students were assembled into separate groups when they arrived at Boulders Beach. Each group, led by an African Impact volunteer, obtained a handcrafted flag representing a different country, including Holland, Kenya, Malawi, U.S.A., and Zimbabwe (each pre-selected by one of the GAPA Grannies). The children were ecstatic to see the penguins; they were waving around the flags and began chanting the countrys name with absolute pride and joy. This generated an electrifying sense of intense excitement for all! As we navigated through the dense vegetation along the boardwalk, the children were reminded to remain calm and unflustered as they observed the penguins on their breeding grounds. Upon reaching the beach at the end of the boardwalk, the children witnessed a large concentration of African penguins. It was an incredible sight for the children to see and learn about. There were penguins of all ages, and even eggs on view. After Boulders Beach, the students concluded the day with several activities on an open playing field, including circle songs, sea themed face painting, penguin relay races, and ‘fishing’ for sea life.
The Grade R and 1s increased their knowledge on creatures you may or may not find in the sea, with 86% of children correctly identifying animals that belong in the sea! They also increased their knowledge by 31% in their awareness of the fur that penguins have covering their skin. An entire 75% of the grade 2s and 3s can now correctly tell you how many eggs a penguin lays at a time (correct answer = 1), as well as learning that a wetsuit is the best, and warmest option of clothing to wear in the cold sea. Before the trip, only 6% of grade 2s and 3s knew what a wetsuit was!
Before the Grade 4-7s went to the beach, I Am Water, an organization focused on educating children about sea life and exploring it, prepared several breathing and stretching exercises for the children, as well as teaching them about different sea life. Now, were ready to snorkel! The I Am Water team, with assistance from the African Impact volunteers and staff, brought the children to Windmill Beach in Simons Town. It was an incredibly successful afternoon because the children learned how to breathe underwater with a snorkel and located and identified numerous sea creatures, such as the anemone, the sea urchin, and the starfish. The children acquired a greater understanding on the transformative effect of protecting their ocean, and were able to safely experience and explore the sea. The experience was truly changing, as their confidence grew and nerves turned to unparalleled excitement.
In addition to exploring and seeing first hand a variety of sea life in rock pools and under the water, the Grade 4-7s also learned about swimming and staying calm in the water. The older children gained confidence and increased their abilities in comfort with the sea, and learned to float and relax in the water. Additionally, there was a 46% increase in knowledge on what to wear when snorkeling. The children also impressed with 100% accuracy on how to dispose of trash at the beach, proving their prowess in conservation and taking care of the environment.
This trip could not have been made possible if it was not for the amazing support from all of our donors. Thanks to you, the children and grannies at GAPA experienced another amazing trip, which is truly unique to Cape Town. Thank you also to I Am Water for their time, energy and expertise in working with the older children.