Pupils exhibit ideas to improve communities

Eighteen Kraaifontein AME Primary School pupils have come up with some bright ideas to improve their communities.

The pupils exhibited models of their concepts at the Eikendal library for the Light Up! Design Thinking Exhibition on Friday last week and received certificates for their efforts.

The project was run by NoStop, a non-profit organisation.

“We had a week-long workshop with the kids. They had to interview each other. We were trained as to what design thinking is about; so we went through the whole process, explained to them, and we taught them how to make it,” said NoStop director Charlene Miles.

“They had to interview their friends and look around in the environment to see how they can come up with ideas to make it a better environment, a safe environment for their friends and so on.”

NoStop launched the project at AME Primary last year and worked with 7-to-9-year-olds to build street light models. This time they worked with 10-to-12-year-olds and asked them to look at wider community improvements.

Daylin Plaatjies said the project had helped to teach his daughter, Taylin, 11, about the importance of teamwork.

“At home, she does not like to play with different kids, but now I can see she is grouping up with kids and she is speaking with them,” he said.

Ms Miles said they had received R46 000 in City funding to run this year’s project.

NoStop art programme coordinator Sodam Lee said art was a therapeutic tool that could help children going through tough times.

AME Primary School principal Douglas Oormeyer previously told Northern News that many of the school’s pupils came from disadvantaged homes and opportunities to build their character were appreciated.