Ten East London schools have been selected to benefit from the Disney Happy Healthy Play programme, an initiative aimed at empowering under-resourced schools to implement physical education into their curriculum.
This is especially important in Buffalo City, where community and school sports facilities have been damaged by rampant vandalism and theft, putting an end to after school programmes in schools in financially constrained areas.
The programme, hosted by Sporting Chance and the Walt Disney Company Africa, has provided teachers with physical education resources and has created a special interactive low-cost gym area in the school.
Schools in Mdantsane, Duncan Village, Buffalo Flats, Scenery Park, Parkside and Gompo Town all benefitted from the programme.
Sporting Chance general manager Natalie Pollock said the programme had been well received in East London
“The schools are under pressure with such limited resources, so this makes a massive impact in enhancing physical education and healthy lifestyle practices in the school and contributing to the pupils holistic development and overall wellbeing,” Pollock said.
The school received a large painted gym area where the activities can be done. While the programme specifically targets grade 3 pupils, the other grades also use the space for their own activities during their own time.
Buffalo Flats Primary School principal Raymond Lewis said the programme had a positive impact on the children.
“I was excited when they approached us with the idea. The children responded enthusiastically.
“They are always excited when it is time to do the activities. I believe that the programme has benefited the children in areas such as discipline, competition, value skills and teamwork. It has also helped them be more physically involved with other school sports.
“The parents are also happy and love the programme,” Lewis said.
The programme consists of three main components. The first is colourful posters of iconic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, highlighting the importance of physical activity, sports and the positive effects of balanced nutrition.
“The second is music-filled sessions at the schools where the importance of physical activity is communicated in an entertaining format. The third is the installation of the Disney Healthy Happy Play active play area equipped with indestructible equipment.”
Siphelele Hobo, one of the coaches employed to assist the children with the programme, said that it is important to ensure that the pupils are having fun to ignite commitment from the children for integrating physical education back into the school.
“What I was doing, was making the children happy. Seeing them get excited and scream when it is time to do the activities is so fulfilling. I make them work but I also make it fun for them. I will be working with them until November, so we plan on having more fun until then,” Hobo said.
The introduction of the programme was a 10-day event but all efforts are aimed at making sure that the programme continues long after the team has left.
After East London, the programme will be implemented in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
