The Activities and Voyages

 

             he activities :

Flying, photo and video.

     

                    

 

     The association has developed a photo and video activity to leave the youngsters a tangible souvenir and a lasting memory of their stay at the Pendazier. This activity also helps them see how they behave with and around the horses as they can see their faults on film.
Depending on their capabilities, the youngsters can join in the making of the video using a computer program, which at the end produces a CD Rom that they can keep.

 

Outside activities  :

     The Pendazier organises activities during the holidays which are open to youngsters from the surrounding villages.

     The youngsters are also confronted with outside events like going to a restaurant, to see how they behave in public (clothing, language, respect of others and behaviour...).

    They also take part in amateur team TREC competitions, this gives them team spirit and helps with map reading from an IGN map, respecting rules, working with the horses and confronting others....

                

                 

 

                  
TREC with horse and carriage

 

    The objective of these activities is to bring up the youngsters as normally as possible and to make them realise that being called "youth at risk " is not a branding for life. Through their school work and their time at the Pendazier, they can grow up to a promising future.

 

The voyages abroad :

     Because of my background (Swiss, Polish and English) and also speaking four languages means that travelling in Europe has become one of the associations goals. We have family homes in Switzerland and Poland which enables us once a year to have a holiday abroad with the youngsters (holidays in france are also organised).     

     A few months before setting off, each youngster makes a log-book with a study of each country they are to visit, this includes the population, size, economic resources, history, money and places they would like to visit. This study takes time and helps the youngsters with their general knowledge. I have noticed that the youngsters, after doing this work, talk about what they have learnt at school.  

     At the Pendazier the horse represents a useful tool for analysis and observation, voyages constitute another.
Each day the younsters write down in their book all that has happened and the impressions the day has left them with.
The unknown (new surroundings, language and customs) reveals their capacity to adjust. This difference can only help their tolerence in every day life.  
To be away from home, the surroundings and the adventure are part of the good side of the trips, whereas accepting strangers very different to themselves, the frustrations of the trip (time keeping, waiting, tiredness, heavy luggage) are part of the reality. These trips help the youngsters deal with both of these situations.

       Once back at the Pendazier the youngsters and I analyse the trip with their impressions and feelings, they write out neatly their log-book adding drawings, photos and postcards. This book is then presented to the CMS to share the unforgettable moments that they had on this trip. Normally the CMS are confronted with family and school problems but with this, they can see like me, the youngsters in a different light with their new found interests.

        On these trips we try to visit Studs, Dressage Centers and also, when  possible, equestrian shows. This helps us see other methods of training, handling of horses and other equestrian traditions.

 

     Our fabulous trip to America in april 2008 took us to legendary places. The photos can be seen in the gallery.

                                                       

                                                                                  The Chalet in Switzerland                                                      The Villa in Poland