We had a busy programme for February half term which included activities at Pineapple Studios, a sports tournament, learning to make homemade burgers and a trip to see the London Lions basketball team play at the Copper Box in Stratford.
On the Wednesday, 20 young people aged 8-14 years old from two different parts of Hackney went to KidZania in White City – a simulation for the real world – where they got to learn about different professions and roleplay in occupations such as nurses, firefighters, police, paramedics and retail assistants. They got to make their own ice creams, chocolates, and smoothies from scratch which they could then take home.
The experience they really loved was being able to earn KidZania money (KidZos) and being able to open a bank account which got them an on-site debit card. They could then withdraw the money they’d earned and deposited in the bank to spend on site. One young person really wanted a temporary tattoo but was a bit short. He took himself off to ‘earn’ the additional KidZo’s he needed to get what he wanted.