News24.com | WATCH | A deep sea adventure for at-risk Grade 1 pupils

• A Cape Town NGO took 38 Kalksteenfontein Primary School pupils on a trip to the aquarium.
• The children were also treated to a boat ride and a puppet show.
• The NGO's founder said many of the children were from at-risk communities and that excursions of such a nature helped to broaden their horizons.

A group of at-risk Grade 1 pupils in Cape Town were treated with a trip to the Two Oceans Aquarium - a first for most of them.

Cape Town-based NGO Ignisive organised the trip for the 38 Kalksteenfontein Primary School pupils with the help of the Camps Bay police.

The pupils travelled to the V&A Waterfront in a Camps Bay SAPS bus and enjoyed a light snack before they set off on the first leg of their outing - a boat trip around the harbour.

The NGO's co-founder, Theresa Massaglia, said the trip was essential because it was a hands-on approach to teaching children about the importance of the environment. 

"It is [important] for them to understand the impact of our environments and oceans and [to] teach them more about that," she said. 

After the boat ride, they headed to the aquarium, where they enjoyed a Sea World-themed puppet show. 

After the show, the pupils had the opportunity to see some of the aquatic animals.

The most significant highlight? Seeing the stingrays and sharks.

A whole new world 

Because many of the children come from at-risk communities, Massaglia said excursions of such a nature often helped to broaden their horizons. 

"It is very important for them... to know that there is a big wide world out there and that it's full of possibilities, and to start at a young age to encourage them to complete school and actually fulfil their potential. 

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