An Inside Out Day: Guiding Diazville Primary Grade One Learners Toward Joy and Hope
The story of little Joshlin Smith, a Grade 1 learner at Diazville Primary School in Saldanha, has profoundly impacted the local community and her classmates alike. Over the past months, these young learners have grappled with intense emotions in a world that has turned upside down for them.
Deeply moved by Joshlin’s circumstances, the innovative team from the Saldanha Bay Municipality’s Economic Development and Strategic Services Directorate (EDSS) resolved to create an outreach programme specifically for her classmates. The central question guiding their efforts was: How could they assist these young learners in rediscovering joy and hope?
On Friday, 18 October 2024, the Grade 1 class was invited to spend a special day at the Saldanha Bay Municipality. In collaboration with the school, the EDSS team, and external stakeholders—including the Western Cape Department of Education and various generous sponsors—a vibrant programme was established. The day drew inspiration from Pixar’s beloved film Inside Out, which illustrates how a young girl, Riley, navigates her emotions through Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust, and Sadness.
The outreach initiative aimed to achieve four primary objectives: to uplift the spirits of Joshlin’s classmates, to foster a sustainable connection between the municipality and the Diazville community, to create a special project showcasing the students’ artwork in the newly renovated Building Control Department, and most importantly, to guide the learners back to a place where joy could become the leading emotion in their hearts.
The action-packed day commenced with a tour of the renovated Building Control facilities at the municipality. There, the children learned about the parallels between the physical building blocks used in construction and the emotional “building blocks” shaped by their experiences.
Following this enlightening introduction, the students participated in various activities tailored to reinforce the day’s theme at the municipality’s Tierkloof Venue in Vredenburg.
Throughout the day, the learners enjoyed healthy refreshments as they engaged in activities such as watching Inside Out, creating art with provided materials, and listening to a presentation focused on navigating overwhelming emotions. Moments for play and relaxation were also included, allowing the children to unwind amidst their emotional journey.
A particularly poignant highlight of the day was the unveiling of the Tree of Hope in the Tierkloof garden. Before this moment, each learner had the opportunity to write letters to their friend, Joshlin. These heartfelt notes were placed in a colourful array of bottles and hung on the majestic tree at the entrance to Tierkloof. As the sun shone down, the vibrant bottles created a whimsical display—a beautiful symbol of light, joy, and hope.
The Saldanha Bay Municipality extends heartfelt gratitude to every individual and organisation that contributed to the success of this event on 18 October. Special thanks are due to our sponsors: Zoom Fibre, Office National in Vredenburg, TWB Plumbing Services and Crontech Consulting. Additionally, we appreciate the support of the Saldanha Bay Municipality’s Council and the involvement of those Councillors who dedicated their time and compassion to the day’s programme.
While the future remains uncertain, we believe that we can help our little ones navigate their big emotions. The Saldanha Bay Municipality is grateful for the opportunity to forge a meaningful relationship with Diazville Primary, reaffirming our commitment to nurturing hope and joy within our community.
