Many members of our community told us the same thing: school holidays can be a real struggle. Parents facing financial hardship often can’t afford to take their children away, and working parents find it hard to arrange safe, engaging activities while balancing their jobs. At the same time, children and young people are left with little to do — and that gap has a real impact on families’ wellbeing and stress levels.

In response to this feedback from our community, West African Development (WAD) created a Holiday Activities Programme to give children and young people a safe, fun, and supportive space during the school holidays.

Our activities include:

• Arts and Craft
• Hair Weaving
• Drumming and Dancing
• Sport and Football
• Trips and Outings

Through this programme, we aim to ease the pressure on parents and carers, while giving children and young people the chance to stay active, build new skills, and connect with their culture and community.