On Monday we celebrated the final day for the Namatjira program for Term 3 2016. The Namatjira program is a special program to be a part of, it is reaching kids in their community and teaching them fun and new ways to be healthy.
The program focused on making healthy smoothies, art and cooking. It is a lot of fun each week to see the kids so enthusiastic to prepare and cook healthy meals. Hearing feedback that the kids now want to help cook at home is what this program is all about.
At the celebration BBQ, there was a magician to entertain the kids and we then awarded all the kids certificates for their efforts. Through South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Funding, Weave Kool Kids Club were able to give every family a blender so they can continue to make healthy smoothies at home. Each family also received a Yhunger cookbook so they can keep cooking the nutritious meals they learnt about through the program. Myna Hua the manager of the Health promotion Service also attended the celebration.
All the community came along to celebrate and one thing that stood out for me was a comment that a community member made which was that ‘Kool Kids have been here from the start’. As a student coming into the Kool Kids Club to learn, I think this stood out for me because it demonstrated what an impact the Namatjira program is having in the community and how important and special that is.
One mother also made a comment about Kool Kids Worker Beau
“I want to thank Beau for being a positive male role model for our kids, you do such an amazing job for our kids.”
I would like to say a big thank you to Mani and Nikkie who volunteer and help each week. They both helped the programs run smoothly each week, thank you so much for your dedication. Keenan Mundine for all the work you have put into setting up this project. I would also like to thank Nikkie from UNSW Community Development who has introduced lots of new workshops and has connected Auntie Maxine and Brendon from Botanical gardens to the program. This has been a fantastic partnership program with University of New South Wales Community Development project, Randwick Council and South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. This is what community is all about.