Life-changing Education for South African Children

Dear Friend,

The first term of the year has just ended and we wanted to send you a brief update about what the YOUPSA children have been up to. The past months were filled with innovative Math learning, a multitude of magic experiences and enjoyments, as well as exploring and growing artistic talents.
A massive thanks to our kind donors, your love and care for our children makes all this possible.

Swimming lessons video
From our last newsletter you will know that YOUPSA has been giving small groups of children the opportunity to take weekly swimming lessons. This initiative is for their safety, confidence, enjoyment and empowerment. According to the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute), only 15% of all South Africans can swim.
Click here to enjoy a video update

Fun toys from recycled materials
Look at the creative ways YOUPSA children have been using discarded bottle tops to make their own toys. There are plenty of materials one can find around the house or in the neighborhood that can become a useful object. First the children collected bottle tops that were discarded in the area around the community and then washed them. Together they made holes in the lids with a hammer and a nail, and then strung the lids together to create their own 'lid kid'.

Joyful math learning
YOUPSA children absolutely love using the Math 24 educational card game. In school our kids have not gained any basic math concepts or number sense at all. All they know from school is a fear and distaste of numbers.
In the YOUPSA groups we have been concentrating on solidifying using numbers 0 - 9, 10 - 19, and the concept of plus and minus. It is an absolute delight to see how the children are now very actively engaged and enjoying their math time to the fullest.

Creating magic with sticks and yarn
YOUPSA children made their own magic eyes. Isn't it gorgeous what they created from only some very basic materials? Each magic eye is unique, just like each of the children.

Karoo Art Competition
Two boys from the YOUPSA Afterschool Enrichment Programme are participating in the Karoo Art competition. The topic is 'Kameraadskap / Cameraderie'. They are representing our beautiful town of De Rust! The top 20 artworks will be shown at 6 different Karoo festivals later in the year.
You can see the online gallery for the competition here

Theatre outing
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees was such an adventure! We took one group of YOUPSA children to see the theatre performance 'Liewe Heksie Vang Vis' (Dear Witch Catches Fish). It was the first time for each of these children to see a live theatre show! They absolutely loved every minute of the performance, and were on the edge of their seats engaged in the story and laughing from the beginning.
After the theatre performace, we visited the many arts and craft stalls at the Festival Marketplace, and then enjoyed a delicious lunch together plus time for play and exercise.

Horse riding adventure
The YOUPSA children had a magical experience during our outing to Klein Karoo Horse Adventures! They were given the chance to build relationships with and ride the horses. The children learned about saddle and bridle, how to mount and dismount. They were each assigned a horse, learned to touch, smell and communicate with it. After that the children led their horse to a ring where they learned to mount and ride it.
This extraordinary experience helped the children break their boundaries and brought so much joy and confidence!

                    A Heartfelt Thanks to YOU
                 our sponsors and supporters!

Please continue helping YOUPSA to bring children these amazing opportunities.