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Mitchells Plain, a township in Cape Town, South Africa is a community filled with resilience and hope. However, like many areas facing socio-economic challenges, young people here often struggle with identity, purpose, and navigating relationships in a healthy way. That’s why Caradale Primary School continually invites us to run our one-day Dream and Dare program for their Grade 7 students. The impact of this initiative is clear—teachers and staff consistently notice a positive shift in the students' behavior after attending.
The Structure of the Day
We ran our Dream and Dare program with around 120 students aged 12/13. We split into four groups—two classrooms for girls and two for boys, with approximately 30 students in each. We were also joined by a team from Live 2:6, a group of interns eager to learn and grow in their ability to facilitate programs like this.
The day kicked off with an atmosphere buzzing with excitement. The students were eager to dive into the sessions, ready to learn and engage in meaningful discussions.
Powerful Moments and Student Feedback
Throughout the day, we covered key topics such as purpose, identity, relationships, and manhood. The feedback from the students showed just how impactful these discussions were:
One girl shared, “My favorite topic is purpose because it makes me realize that I have a purpose in this world. I am not here to do nothing but to have a role that God has a plan for me.”
Another said, “My favorite topic was identity and the popping of the balloons because they taught me that these words don’t matter.”
A third girl mentioned, “I loved the people who ran it because they interact with you about the topics.”
The boys also had deep reflections on what they learned:
“My favorite topic was sex—we learned that watching porn is not good.”
“I loved the manhood topic and learning about how to be a man and what God says.”
“My favorite topic was about relationships because they teach us about how to take care of yourself in the relationship.”
Highlights of the Day
One of the most memorable moments was a high-energy dance break with the girls, bringing joy and a sense of community to the group. This allowed them to express themselves freely and bond in a fun way.
The day concluded with a powerful declaration ceremony. The boys stood before the girls and boldly declared, “We dare to be different,” symbolizing their commitment to rejecting harmful masculine behaviors and choosing to respect and uplift women.
A Lasting Impact
Every time we run the Dream and Dare program at Caradale Primary, we see transformation. The students leave with a deeper understanding of who they are, the value they hold, and how they can positively shape their futures. The school’s continuous invitation for us to return is a testament to the lasting impact of this initiative.
We look forward to the next Dream and Dare day, knowing that each session plants seeds of hope, purpose, and change in the hearts of these young students.
