On Saturday, the Opened Book Institute team had the joy and privilege of visiting St Martin’s Diocesan Home for Children in Berea, Durban. Our visit was centered around a beautiful theme — “You Are Loved.” It was a day filled with creativity, laughter, and connection as we spent time reminding every child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved.
A Day Full of Smiles and Colour
The morning began with Playdough Making, where the children got to mix, knead, and shape their very own colorful creations using simple, safe ingredients. This hands-on activity brought out their creativity and plenty of giggles as they proudly showed off their masterpieces.
Next, our Coloring Corner became a lively hub of imagination. With the help of our volunteers, the children enjoyed coloring sheets, crayons, and pencils, expressing themselves freely and adding vibrant splashes of joy to the day.
Of course, Face Painting was one of the biggest highlights! Our talented volunteers transformed little faces into lions, butterflies, superheroes, and more. The smiles were priceless.
Dreams, Purpose, and Vision
A special part of the day was the Vision Board Activity. Each child received an A3 board with their name cutout, along with a collection of inspiring pictures, scriptures, and motivational quotes. They spent time designing their boards — reflecting their dreams, values, and hopes for the future. Once completed, every board was laminated, giving each child a lasting keepsake to remind them that they have a future filled with purpose and love.
Words of Encouragement and Gratitude
After a delicious lunch, we gathered the children together for a short worship session with Stephen Francis Jnr and a motivational talk by Jeremy Chetty, who encouraged them to believe in themselves and to hold onto the truth that they are loved and capable of achieving great things.
Before we said our goodbyes, we ended the day in prayer, thanking God for His love and protection over each child. As a final gesture of care, each child received a goodie bag — a small reminder of the joy we shared together.
Reflecting on the Day
The visit to St Martin’s was more than just a day of activities; it was a reminder of the power of community, kindness, and faith. Seeing the children’s faces light up reminded us why we do what we do at the Opened Book Institute — to impact lives through love, learning, and hope.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the team at St Martin’s Home for welcoming us so warmly and to all our volunteers and supporters who made this day possible.
Every child deserves to know — You Are Loved.
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