Fun, friends and a good atmosphere is what the children of Brunstad Christian Church South Africa experience at Activity Club! The club provides a stimulating and safe environment for children from 7 to 12 years of age to come together on a weekly basis, and through activities prepared for them by mentors, they learn practical, creative and social skills.
The children are divided into groups according to age, so that the activities planned are appropriate. There are two mentors per group. A wide range of activities are arranged for them such as arts and crafts, board games, musical and physical activities, to name but a few. Once a month an outing is organised for the group as a whole, which could be in the form of a meal out, or going to suitable places such as an eco-park for a nature walk, an animal park or a zoo, a play park or fairground, cycling, and go-carting. Go-carting is a particularly popular activity with the older children. The annual camp is an event that is keenly anticipated by the children, and the mentors put a great effort into making it a very special weekend outing for them.
An important element of Activity Club is the monthly discussion group. Various themes and topics are discussed that are relevant to the children’s lives, which help to equip them to make the right choices in their daily situations, whether at home, school or in general daily life. This is always followed by a time of fun and fellowship, which is rounded off with some tasty snacks prepared for them by the mentors.
The mentors are young people over the age of 18 who voluntarily give of their time for this activity. It is vitality important that they are wholehearted and active members in the church who have a care and love for children and enjoy working with them. Children, being very impressionable from a young age, look up to the mentors who are in essence, living examples of the gospel put into practice in the practical circumstances that arise. Showing patience, love, kindness and mutual respect when they deal with the children, they nurture good Christian values through ‘word and deed’. Bonds are formed, seeds are planted and as these children grow up, memories of the goodness and love they experienced at Activity Club will stay with them, and as young adults, they might in turn be willing to give of themselves for the benefit of others.
