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“The final concert was a wonderful balance of skilled performance and student participation. Our students are normally very shy about public performance so staff were quite surprised at how eagerly the students participated.”
Deputy Principal - Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Port Keats
“Superbly organised, superbly entertaining, educational and just oozing with many positive benefits for our students, staff, school and community. Highly recommended!”
Principal - Minyerri Primary School
Chantal ‘the Fairy’ and Miss Deb have become increasingly more involved with remote schools and communities. Their interraction with students, workers and community leaders has become a source of vision and motivation.
Their desire to be a positive part of these communities, has been the inspiration for the development of a wholistic program designed to bring health, confidence, and self-actualisation to participants.
Their latest project is the Sowing the Seeds Tour which is the result of their move towards empowering ‘Edutainment’.
Have a look at what it’s all about...
SOWING THE SEEDS TOUR 2002/2003
Kidz Fun Biz Sowing the Seeds Program is an initiative born from the experiences of Chantal Munro and Debbie Hyder with the support and input of many health and community officers, principals, teachers and teachers aids, community elders, and the young people themselves from a cross-section of the community at whom the project will be targeted.
Debbie and Chantal are long term Territorians who are innovative in their industry of children’s entertainment. They have instigated and practiced the concept of education through entertainment within the Territory with outstanding results. Chantal and Debbie are well respected and much sought after in the entertainment industry. Their commitment to the Territory in which they live will see them implement their Sowing Seeds initiative into Territory communities for the greater benefit of individuals, communities and the Territory as a whole.
Substance abuse, bullying , stealing and vandalism are social problems that require urgent attention in many of the Northern Territory’s remote communities. Boredom amongst youth due to lack of activities and limited resources is one commonly identified root of these problems. Health of indigenous Australians in communities also needs to be addressed. Numerous reports have publicly identified and quantified these social and health problems and it is now time to implement solutions to rectify these well documented problems.
Kidz Fun Biz will help resolve these social and health problems by introducing and implementing the Sowing the Seeds Program to major remote Aboriginal communities within the NT. This program is a newly developed initiative that involves introducing predominantly primary aged school children in remote communities to fun, challenging and rewarding circus activities that: are beneficial for self development and self confidence; encourage a healthy lifestyle; promote cooperation and leadership; and develop inter and intra-cultural respect and friendships.
Similarly the program will also demonstrate and encourage the benefits of healthier eating and healthier lifestyle by delivering basic health information in a fun, practical, and memorable manner. A fundamental aspect of this health education will be the initiation of an ongoing community health fruit tree planting and care project that will appeal to the Indigenous populations.
Prior to the implementation of the program, Territory Health Services, Community Nurses, Councils, Police and Schools will be consulted within each community to tailor the program to meet the specific requirements of individual communities.
By delivering the program through schools to target youth of primary school age, this preventative program aims to promote resistance to peer pressure and reduce the risk of youth becoming involved with substance abuse and other unhealthy and socially unacceptable activities as well as demonstrating the benefits of a healthier way of life before unhealthy lifestyle patterns emerge.
The Sowing the Seeds Program is an analogy for this aptly named program which introduces skills and ideas that can develop and grow with the continued support of each school and community for the long term benefit of the community as a whole. Sowing the Seeds also refers directly to the planting of fruit tree seeds within the communities to establish a supplementary diet and encourage healthy eating.
AIMS
The aims of the Sowing the Seeds program are to:
 reduce unsociable behaviour;
increase health awareness;
decrease the rate of substance abuse;
increase school attendance;
complement and build on existing education programs
to assist in fulfilling education content requirements.
OUTCOMES
The outcomes of the program include:
increased self-confidence,
perseverance and individual initiative;
changes in behaviour towards healthier lifestyle habits;
reduction in bullying and other unsociable behaviour coupled
with greater cooperation in group and community activities;
reduction in the rate of substance abuse;
reduction in truancy; greater appreciation and respect for the effort,
safety and abilities of one’s self and others.
BENEFITS
Program benefits include:
decreased expenses associated with social problems;
increased rate of education due to higher attendance;
increased retention of educational information;
healthier lifestyles within the communities;
desire to set and achieve realistic goals in other facets of life;
teachers will gain an insight into abilities of students in a non-textbook environment; establishment of inter and intra-cultural respect and friendships.
For further details about the Sowing the Seeds Progam as a school program or as a holiday program go to:
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOWING THE SEEDS PROGRAM
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