Memories

Autumn school holidays 2022: Roots & Wings Sleepover. During the autumn school holidays 2022, we finally had our very first Roots & Wings sleepover. The children enjoyed crafts and of course Bible story activities accordingly. And, last but not least, a "royal" supper for all the little princess and princesses, which they absolutely loved!

We are so grateful for the way we experienced God's guidance in the preparations and the facilitation. It was just amazing to see how all the little puzzle pieces were coming together, and how the children truly enjoyed their time.

Winter holidays 2022: During the winter holidays 2022, Roots & Wings had its very first Family Fun Day at Boland Park Stadium. Organised in cooperation with some of the mothers, it was the first event in which all our groups came together, bringing along their families.

Everyone enjoyed a morning full of competition, play and much laughter. It was a beautiful time of community and celebration.

On the 21st of January 2023 it finally happened: With a seven-month delay, we went on our very first "Roots & Wings" outing! And the waiting was worth the while! Our first destination was the beautiful "Oude Molen Eco Village" in Pinelands, where we were received by lovely Kelly and her awesome "Food Garden" team, as well as by the crew of "Oude Molen Horse Stables".

Divided in groups, we learnt about the "art of recycling", the different plants and their benefits, the ecosystem in a garden, including soil-life and insects, and we saw first-hand the miracle of multiplication of seed and what it means for our food security. Eventually, each child had the opportunity to make "seedballs" to take home, which was so much fun!

The kids could also spend some time with the horses grooming and riding, and for most of them it was the first time ever on the back of a horse! Lunch was served at Oom Faiez' restaurant, where all of us enjoyed the lovely atmosphere and the many opportunities to play and discover.

Next stop: Mouille Point, Greenpoint. After saying "Hello" to the Ocean, we headed towards the "Bluetrain Park", where the kids enjoyed the train ride with lots of "Aaaaaahs" and "Yeaaaaaaahs" (especially when going through the tunnel ;-) ), and made use of the many opportunities to play and enjoy the beautiful environment. We concluded the day with a stop on top of the Paarl mountains for a last photo-shoot.

We are so grateful for the sponsorship we received from Cape Winelands, which made this trip possible, as well as for APL Cartons who sponsored our transport! Thank you also to the Oude Molen Village team, as well as the Moms, Dads, and Oom, who helped with the preparations and the trip, and to Klink Transport for driving us safely to and fro. We had a blessed day and made many precious memories!

In order to help our four students overcome some of their obstacles to learning, we facilitated an Equitots™ Equine-Assisted-Learning intervention at the end of the school year 2023. Over a period of four weeks, we had a two-hour session with our boys weekly, always at the end of the school week. Emma, the founder and director of Equitots™, facilitated the sessions according to where the boys were at, tailoring them to address specific challenges we were facing in our school set-up.

The boys experienced how the horses' reactions reflected their own state of mind and behaviour, which allowed them to become more aware of themselves and the consequences of their actions (or lack thereof). The interaction with the horses also created opportunities for the children to identify with certain situations, feelings, and behaviours, helping them to process and verbalize their thoughts and emotions.

The Equitots™ model is a holistic approach, and thus all aspects of development were addressed in the program. If you are interested in a more detailed report, please do not hesitate to contact us - we will gladly send you comprehensive feedback on the intervention. We once again thank everyone who contributed towards this project and made this valuable experience possible for our children!

It was a great joy for us to see them engage not only with the horses, but also with the entire process, stepping out of their comfort zones and learning and growing week by week.

A long-dreamt dream came true for us on the 26th and 27th of March: We were finally able to host a "South Roots Int. Performing Arts Workshop" for our Roots & Wings children! Thanks to a portion of the Grant-in-Aid Community Fund, which YWAM Worcester's ministry department was awarded earlier this year, and the generosity of Kleinplasie Enterprises, who agreed to host us free of charge, we were able to plan this workshop right on time for the autumn holidays.

YWAM Worcester also came alongside us, providing accommodation for the South Roots Int. team for free, and Aunty Maria offered her catering services for a generously discounted price. All of this we call FAVOR, and we thank our Heavenly Father for all these blessings He made available for us!

South Roots Int., "born and raised" in Worcester, but now located in Cape Town, carries a weighty mandate in the sphere of community development. By using the performing arts as a tool, they help children and youth to explore their own God-given gifts and talents, which helps them to discover who they are - made in the image of Christ, with a plan and a purpose for their lives.

In only two mornings, South Roots empowered our children to express themselves, their dreams and hopes for their lives and community through drama, song, and dance, preparing them for the grand finale Wednesday afternoon, where they showcased their performances to their parents and other family members. Many mothers (and we, too!) were so touched, that they could not hold back the tears, and we all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as we watched the children step into new territory.

Throughout the workshop, there were plenty opportunities to play, spend time with the animals, enjoy Auntie Maria's delicious food, and just chill with old and new friends in the lovely atmosphere at Kleinplasie. We are so grateful for these couple of days, and excited to see how the journey will continue...

On Saturday, 19 October 2024, the children and youth of Roots & Wings Ministry performed a Shadow Theatre production under the direction of German volunteer Sylvia, telling the story of Creation. They also showcased their different talents, captivating their audience at Moria House in Esselenpark.

In January 2025, a YWAM outreach team helped us with important home renovations, while at the same time ministering to our afternoon groups. It was a week of stretching for all of us, but in the end we were so proud and absolutely grateful for this wonderful opportunity!

On the 21st of March we organised another Fun Day, this time kids only. We spent a lovely time at one of our favourite spots, the old Kleinplasie farmhouse.

Again, we had the privilege of receiving a portion of the Cape Winelands Community Support Fund, which we used to organise an adventure outing to Robertson on the 12th of April 2025, in cooperation with Veldlief. Children and staff enjoyed the exciting program and the beautiful environment – and we all hope that soon there will be another nature adventure we will master together!