Grayston Preparatory learners SleepOut to empathise with the homeless

More than 50 Grade 7s from Grayston Preparatory School took part in a SleepOut on 14 June where they experienced what life is like for the less fortunate.

The event was held in solidarity with the SheEO SleepOut, where female business leaders will spend the night outdoors later on in the year to empathise with the plight of the poor and raise funds to assist them.

The Grayston Preparatory event saw schoolchildren and teachers spend a night sleeping in the cold, in cardboard boxes, as they experienced what life is like for those who are less fortunate, in an effort to gain empathy for vulnerable communities.

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While discussing homelessness and solutions for change, learners also collected items such as nappies and wet wipes for the Refilwe Community Project, a child and baby home that looks after abandoned babies.

Kim Garner of the CEO SleepOut said, “The learners arrived with sleeping bags. They were told they couldn’t have pillows or extra blankets as the evening had to be authentic. They then were involved in their 67 Minutes for Mandela, where they made and created teaching aids for the nursery school, which is part of their selected charity, the Refilwe Project.”

For dinner, they had soup and rolls and ate this outside around fires. They were then allowed to play outside. No electronic devices were allowed for the evening.

“The Grade 7s went to sleep quite cold and woke up freezing. They definitely got to experience an evening of community, giving and awareness of homelessness.”

Schools can still register to host their own SleepOut™ before 8 August 2017 at www.theceosleepoutza.co.za/school-sleepout/registration.