Holiday Fun Story – Sama
Thanks to our supporters, Sama and her sons can spend quality time together and connect with other families.
Our Holiday Fun programme has become a big part of Sama’s family routine, giving them a fun, creative space to connect and make friends during school holidays. When Sama and her husband were struggling financially, our project provided free, fun activities without the worry of cost.
It’s been a great place for her youngest son to explore his creativity, and for her other son to try things like breakdancing, and football while making new friends. With free lunches, fun activities, and a supportive community, Holiday Fun is something Sama’s family looks forward to every school holiday. “I like to come again and again every year,” she says.
Discovering Holiday Fun
Sama first heard about Holiday Fun at Firstsite a few years ago through Facebook, when her son was still in primary school. At the time, she and her husband were struggling to find work and living on a tight budget. Our Holiday Fun project became a lifeline, giving them a place to enjoy creative activities, meet other families, and spend quality time together – without worrying about the cost.
For Sama and her family, Holiday Fun has become their go-to for school holidays. It’s a perfect mix of fun, creativity, and connection. Sama shares: “I started to come, and my children really loved it. They liked the activity, the art, [and the] food. So, when we come back home, we are full of activity, socialising. We are happy. They are tired, they play with the stuff that they got from the art activities. And we enjoyed our time.”
Holiday Fun also gives Sama’s youngest son a chance to shine creatively. “My youngest son, he’s very creative. He likes to do art, and he enjoys it. So, when he comes here, I can see his talent is coming,” she says.
“My youngest son, he's very creative. He likes to do art, and he enjoys it. So, when he comes here, I can see his talent is coming."
Building friendships
Holiday Fun isn’t just about the activities – it’s about connection too. Sama has made strong friendships with other parents over the years. She says: “I like to talk with the other moms. We like to say hello, and we have lots of friends from the [past] few years now.” Sama is happy that her children have also built their own bonds through crafts, breakdancing, football, and more: “they meet up during the holidays, and it’s so nice to see them remember each other every time they come back.”
“I like to talk with the other moms. We like to say hello, and we have lots of friends from the [past] few years now.”
A place to grow through creativity
Her experience at Holiday Fun has inspired Sama to encourage other mothers who might be feeling stuck or unsure about what to do with their kids: “I encourage every single mum if she struggles sitting in the house, she doesn’t know what to do with the child, and if they get bored of course to bring them here. It’s a really good option to get more creative, brighter with all this facility, with all this sport.”
For Sama, Holiday Fun has been so much more than a way to fill school holidays – it’s been a space where her family can bond, build friendships, and explore their creativity together. “I like to come again and again every year,” she says, reflecting on how much it has meant to her family.
“I encourage every single mum if she struggles sitting in the house, she doesn't know what to do with the child, and if they get bored of course to bring them here."
