Silverlea Primary School in Athlone is the winner of the Edukite competition held at Zandvlei lookout in Muizenberg on Saturday 29 October.
The 28th Kite Festival was held in different areas across the Western Cape and the first one was held at the Heideveld Sportsground in Heideveld.
The competition was held by Cape Mental Health to create awareness of children’s mental health.
“Our learners were very excited to be entering the Kite Festival this year. Zeenat Larney and the Grade 5s have been working on the kites for two weeks. The theme this year is #FlyYourDream,” says Fatum Adams, spokesperson for the school.
One in five children is living with a mental illness. More can be struggling in silence.
“Everybody knows how to look after their physical health but looking after our mental health is just as important. We need to learn to relax, speak, breathe and most importantly dream.
“Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it you can do it. Fly your dreams!” she says.
Silverlea came first and won R3 000. They will also be featured on SABC Kids television.
Learners who took part in the festival were asked to explain what the competition meant to them.
Cody says you need to be positive about dreaming as this affects your mental health.
Caydee adds that supporting her peers is very important for her as it helps them cope with today’s struggles as a youth.
Caylin says she loves painting and decorating the kites and she learned that it is okay to not be okay mentally.
Larney says it is truly heartwarming to see the learners’ interpretations of mental health and encourages all learners to speak out and ask for help.
“Learners are mentally shouting out. ‘Help me, support me, notice me.’ All they want us as adults to do is notice them better.
Amy loved working with her peers and enjoyed talking and creating awareness about mental help. She says: “Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality, if you can dream it, you can do it! Fly your dreams.”
Sharon Brink, principal of the school, is so proud of the team for being ambassadors for the school by creating awareness of mental health for learners. “Mental health is just as important as physical health,” Brink says.
Schools from Muizenberg, Retreat, Athlone and Mitchell’s Plain took part in the competition.
The following schools won the competition:
Special Education Schools
1. Dorothea School, Stellenbosch
2. Blouvlei School, Retreat
3. Beacon School, Westridge
Mainstream Primary Schools:
1. Silverlea Primary School, Athlone
2. Christel House, Athlone
3. Caravelle Primary, Mitchell’s Plain.
The judging panel consisted of Dr Ingrid Daniels, Kim Ashton of Pam Golding; Cllr Aimee Kuhl, kiter Mari Ware-Lane, and Thomas Bezuidenhout.
