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Back at Caradale: A Day to Dream, Dare and Discover Who You Are
Updated: 13 hours ago
There are some schools that feel a little like coming home and Caradale Primary School is one of them.
We recently had the joy of returning to Caradale Primary in Mitchells Plain to spend the day with the Grade 7 girls and boys for another Dream & Dare Day. We love coming back to this school, not only because of the warm welcome we receive, but because we get to see the difference these days can make in the lives of the students. Dream & Dare Days create a safe and engaging space for young people to explore identity, belonging, purpose, relationships, boundaries and growing up. Through conversations, activities, games and practical lessons, students are encouraged to understand their worth, make wise choices and begin thinking about the kind of people they want to become.
This time, we were also joined by interns from Live 2:6, who helped facilitate the day alongside our team. Having young adults involved in the program brings something special to the experience.
Learning about who we are
For the girls, the day created space to talk openly about their changing bodies, puberty, menstruation, self-love and identity. One student shared that her favourite lesson was learning about menstruation:
“I liked how they told us the importance of self-love and taught us about menstruation which was my favourite lesson of the day.”
Another girl particularly connected with the message that God made her intentionally:
“My topic and activity I like is keep knowing that Father God did not make a mistake with how you look.”
These conversations are important. Adolescence can bring so many questions about appearance, identity and belonging. We want girls to leave knowing that their bodies are worthy of respect and that their value isn't determined by how they look or what others think of them.
One student summed up the impact of the identity session simply:
“Identity because it made me gain my spark back.”
Daring to become a man of character
The boys were given their own space to explore what it means to grow into manhood including identity, responsibility, relationships, sex and the pressures they may face as young men.
One student reflected:
“I learnt a lot of things on how to be a man.”
Rather than simply telling boys what they should or shouldn't do, Dare Day gives them an opportunity to ask questions, think critically and consider what kind of man they want to become.
Making space for dreams
One of the highlights of the day was our Planting Our Dreams activity, where students were encouraged to think about their hopes for the future and the dreams they want to pursue.
One student remembered a particularly powerful message from the session:
“Planting our dreams and have to watch the man talking about ‘if you don't see it, it doesn't mean it's not coming.’”
For young people growing up in challenging circumstances, having permission to dream can be powerful in itself. Dream & Dare Days remind students that their circumstances today don't have to define their future.
“It was very fun”
Of course, learning doesn't have to feel like school!
One student summed up the day perfectly:
“I liked everything about the program cause it was very fun and I really enjoyed myself.”
And that's exactly what we hope for. We want young people to be able to learn about serious and sometimes difficult topics in an environment where they feel safe, valued, listened to and where they can have fun too.
Returning to Caradale reminds us why these days matter. Every conversation, activity and question is an opportunity to plant something in a young person's life, a new understanding of themselves, a healthier perspective on relationships, a sense of purpose, or simply the courage to dream a little bigger.
