Groceries or music lessons?
That’s the choice many Saskatchewan parents have to make. Creative Kids can help.
Connor, age 8, always wanted to play the guitar. Sarah, age 11, dreamed of performing on stage. Keynaan, age 14, hoped to join his friends at film camp. Connor’s story
Connor was a shy boy who tried his best to fit in among his peers at school. After some schoolyard bullying pulled him deeper into his shell, his mother felt some after-school programming would help to keep him busy. As a single parent, it was difficult for her to find opportunities within her budget. Connor had asked about learning how to play guitar, but the cost of guitar rental and lessons was out of reach.
Sarah’s story
Sarah was a born performer. Her mother claims she jumped up to dance on coffee tables and sang in the middle of restaurants. She and her friends were always coming up with ways to perform. Sarah had been taking dance lessons for a few years when her father’s poor health and associated costs of care meant she had to put the lessons on hold. She told her mother she understood, but she spent the last year feeling left out while watching her friends continue dancing lessons each week.
Keynaan’s story
Keynaan and his family have been in Canada for five years. His dad was working two jobs and his mother was home looking after his younger brother and sister. He and his friends would sit for hours watching movies and playing video games, then go out in the evenings – sometimes getting into trouble. His friend’s mother suggested they try a film camp where they could put their creative energy to good use. Everyone in his “squad” was able to register except Keynaan. His family was on a tight budget and had no extra money for after-school programs.
CREATIVE EXPRESSION IS SO IMPORTANT!
Thanks to funding and support from Creative Kids, Connor, Sarah, and Keynaan’s stories have happy endings. They found their place, discovered their creative spirit, and were offered the chance to be a part of something they would have otherwise been excluded from. Sadly, not all kids are as lucky.
Creativity and expression lies within us all. The opportunity to engage in arts and culture activities in our youth nurtures these traits and helps us grow into well-rounded, confident, thoughtful adults.
CREATIVE KIDS GIVES KIDS A CHANCE
Creative Kids is a registered charity that raises funds to help children and youth, who due to family situations, face barriers to participation. Creative Kids provides grants of up to $750 per to kids, age 19 and under, which goes towards an arts, culture, or creative activity offered in their community by reputable service providers.
ALL FUNDS RAISED GO TO SUPPORT KIDS
Thanks to generous donations from people just like you, Creative Kids has been able to help just over 6,000 Saskatchewan children and youth participate in cultural and/ or creative activities that mean the world to them.
THE NEED KEEPS GROWING!
There are close to 64,000 children and youth who live in poverty in Saskatchewan (Child and Family Poverty in Saskatchewan Report, 2016). Many have limited access to activities that will help them build confidence, learn new skills, develop leadership and express themselves. Creative Kids gives them the chance to be included.
Last year, over 1,900 kids from all over Saskatchewan applied to Creative Kids to participate in cultural activities, but we didn’t’ have enough money to fund them all. Due to limited financial resources, 374 deserving kids were turned away. The chance to have an impact on a child living right in your community is simple and immediate, with a donation to Creative Kids.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Please give today! Your support will help kids in your community – like Connor, Sarah and Keynaan – participate in activities that will enrich their lives and help them grow into confident, successful members of society. Help nurture a child’s creative potential… help shape a better future for all. Please give today! All donations are 100 per cent tax deductible.
To donate, go to www.creativekidssask.ca/donate