Fun, Friends and Flourishing - Sleepover 2023

When life can be tough and it can feel there’s no chance of escaping or resting is on the horizon, we can become overwhelmed, tired and despondent.

For many of our iKhaya Kids, they’ve lived adult lives way before their 10th birthday. And there’s no respite from this unless they’re at iKhaya.

As part of our yearly programme, we invite our oldest kids to spend the weekend with us at the annual sleepover. Staying on the iKhaya campus from Friday till Sunday with their best friends, their favourite teachers and a fun packed educational programme awaiting them.

This respite from home life has always been the highlight of the year for many past alumni at iKhaya, citing that the sleepover is the one thing they remember for making a difference to their childhood.

The sleepover provides a chance to:

  • experience a level of indpendance not available at home

  • take a rest from being a carer to family members

  • have tonnes of fun

  • deep dive into important subjects on life and development with their teachers in a comfortable environment.

This year was no different!

In fact, upon reporting on the sleepover to the team yesterday, the team of teachers facilitating the sleepover had tears in their eyes at what THEY learnt over the weekend.

Opportunities arose naturally where the children shared personal stories, experiences, struggles and their motivation to make a change. Due to the setting, the atmosphere allowed for children to be vulnerable and practise listening to their peers, and step up to support them. How powerful is that!

Other activities included:

  • English breakfast, Burgers and Braai!

  • Entrepreneurial skills session - allowing children to come up with plans to build a fundraising project.

  • Daily exercise and strength building.


I’d like to take this moment to thank the two families that sponsored this event from the UK, your generosity allowed 32 children the most life-changing weekend with full bellies, hearts and open eyes!

If you’d like to sponsor an event such as this, or provide an experience for these special future leaders, please contact me here.

Sara & the iKhaya team.

Sara Clarke