At its first deadline, way back in 2010, Creative Kids received 124 applications. One of those was from a little girl who wanted to try out dance classes. She was the first child approved for support.

This little girl started out in ballet, but due to her learning disability, she found it challenging. She switched to Austrian dancing, where she discovered her love of dance, and went on to also train in contemporary dance for two years.

According to her mother, “She was always happy when she danced. She made friends. Her mental health and well-being improved.”

Now 17 years old, she wishes to pursue a career in pathology. Today, her mother says, “She now has self-confidence. Dance helped her to participate and be confident and perform in public.” For seven years, dance allowed her to perform live at Regina’s annual Mosaic – A Festival of Cultures, Spring Free from Racism, and other community events. “They also went into the community and performed in seniors’ homes,”she says. “She started volunteering – serving the community and was able to learn about other cultures.”

She believes that the program is important to low income families. There was no way she was going to beable to afford dance without Creative Kids’ support.

The opportunity to continue to dance, “helped her learn about commitment and instilled self-esteem to prepare her for her high school years,” she says.

It’s not often that a program can follow beneficiaries as they grow. From funding one little girl in 2010, Creative Kids has gone ahead to support over 11,500 Saskatchewan kids access creative activities that have helped them to become well-rounded young adults.