UJ student provides Jackson’s Drift’s Lerato Education Centre with playground equipment
Kerri has always had a passion for children.
UNIVERSITY of Johannesburg student Kerri-Anne Baigent has joined forces with occupational therapist Bianca Pais to provide children from Jackson’s Drift’s Lerato Education Centre with a much-needed facelift of their playground and a few added educational play ideas.
Kerri is doing her honours degree in strategic communication and as part of her programme, she was required to create and implement a project in which change would be introduced to the community.
“I decided to approach Rene Parker from Jackson’s Drift’s youth centre and Child Reach to bring change to the children through Treads With Tricks – an initiative which focuses on achieving Goal 12 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns,” she said.
Her initiative aims to clean up the streets of Johannesburg and bring new ideas to playgrounds to stimulate both mental and physical growth in children.
“The children at Lerato Educational Centre were provided with sustainable and user-friendly playground equipment made from tyres,” she said.
One of the activities, known as the obstacle course with four stages, was used to stimulate sensory processing within the children to help enhance their concentration levels as well as their ability to effectively conduct fine motor skills.
The children were also exposed to other activities like colour stacking, tic-tac-toe and the hoop throw for the development of their physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills.
Kerri says she has always had a passion for children and providing them with new ways of play is something she feels strongly about.
“This initiative has sparked so much interest among children in the settlement as it will keep them off the streets and on the playground where they will grow without taking part in mischievous activities,” she added.
Kerri said this was more than just a school project as she would continue with the initiative to serve more children in the community.
Follow Kerri’s change journey on Facebook and Instagram, Treads With Tricks.
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