14 August was the date set to tell, and show the Teddy Bear Clinic kids and their parents what Kidz Power is about.
A month ago, I met with the volunteer counsellers to get their buy-in. Ayesha prepared brochures and posters to be given to the parents and indemnity forms to be signed.
On the spur of the moment, I asked Woolworths Fontainebleau for some goodies and without too much fuss, they said yes. We could only fetch the stuff on Friday afternoon; and I commissioned my ever faithful and ready-to-help parents to collect on my behalf. We had no idea what or how much we would be able to get from them, so Mom spent Thursday and Friday morning baking, and I slaved over a hot supermarket trolley.
Friday afternoon at 3:45 Mom 'phoned sounding exhausted. "What, exactly, did you ask Woolworths for?" They had given us a truckload of stuff - including meat, 3 boxes of fruit and vegetables and bread rolls! My kitchen (and car) looked like a Spaza!
Meanwhile, Ayesha had organised the demo with some of the kids from her Dojo.
By 12:45, the scheduled start time, kids and parents were seated and eagerly waiting. Marilu (From TBC) introduced us; I said a few words about what Kidz Power is about and handed over to Ayesha for the demo. Fantastic, the way she engages with the kids! She had them smiling and responding within seconds.
The demo had huge impact, especially the powerful punches and kicks dealt out by the black belts. There were oohs and ahs, and I think children and parents alike were inspired. Ayesha made the point that "dynamite comes in small packages", and that, even if you are small, or a girl, you CAN defend yourself. She also told the kids that everyone who joins her class has to make a "pinky promise" that they will not use what they learn to bully others!
After the demo, kids lined up for cake and snacks at one table, and the parents at another (this for the benefit of the kids). The tables were groaning under the weight of countless sandwiches, wors rolls, hot cross buns, muffins, cake, savouries... nobody went hungry and at the end of it, there were not so much as a half a cup cake left over! In addition, each parent went home with a bag or two of best quality Woolworths vegetables and bread rolls!
We signed up about 35 kids, and start the self defence lessons next month. The kids I spoke to are looking forward to it, and a number of the parents spoke to Ayesha afterwards.
Ayesha and I would like to thank:
The kids from Van Rensburg and Midgely Dojo, who gave us such an awesome show:
Jean Bollweg, Shane Marx, Natalie Morris (1st Dan), Bianca Szmetana (Red Belt) Lilian Bester (4th Kyu (purple)), Chanet and Shayne Kromberg (Blue Belt) and Ronan Szmetana (Green Belt)
Woolworths, Fountainebleau, for their enormous food contribution
My parents, for driving around on my behalf and labouring over boxes and boxes of food, and especially my tireless Mom for her wonderful baking and hundreds of sandwiches
Marilu and the volunteers at Teddy Bear Clinic for their kind assistance
..And YOU, for giving us the kick-start to get Kidz Power going and to be able to afford putting on such a party!
Here is my second attempt to post a comment ... Well done all of you. If enough people do enough small good things we can make the world a better place.
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