Children push boundaries in No Limits!
There were lots of tired children by the time No Limits! programme was through with them. For four days and three nights 22 children from around Taranaki participated in the Red Cross programme designed to create opportunity after opportunity for personal growth.
One of the highlights of the programme this time around was a boxfit class run by Jacob Rapira at Box Office Boxing New Plymouth.
‘‘It’s the first time we’ve done this,’’ programme co-ordinator Anita Thomas said.
‘‘The Box Office Boxing club has been quite visible in that they support young people. We thought it would be a great idea to give them a call and see if they would put something together for us and they were really keen.’’
No Limits! is a programme for children aged 10 to 12 years and it’s in its seventh year.
‘‘Taranaki is the birthplace of No Limits! It was actually developed by previous Red Cross New Zealand staff that spoke to different youth organisations, different community people in the know, to develop this programme.’’
‘‘This age group doesn’t aways get opportunities like this.’’
An aim of the programme is to push boundaries through experience and introduce the children to organisations in the community like the rescue helicopter and the fire service.
Other activities included a mud run, using the climbing wall at the YMCA, and making pies, bread and filled rolls with Le Dejeuner Catering.
‘‘It helps them gain some skills in team building and relationships. There’s no limits to what they can do and achieve if they try.’’
Normally the programme is three days of activities, now it’s four days and three nights staying at Konini Lodge.
‘‘In the past it’s been twice a year and the same kids have gone on both programmes,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re focusing, at the moment, on doing one programme a year and making it a bigger programme so that the children that we take have that extra opportunity to develop those relationships and build those skills without the disjointedness of going home each night.’’
Thomas said it costs thousands to put on a camp like this and it’s only made possible through the fundraising efforts of Red Cross branches around the region and support from businesses.