The sky was filled with colourful kites as children enjoyed the annual Cape Mental Health’s Cape Town International Kite Festival community fly, in Heideveld.

October is Mental Health Awareness month, and for the past 30 years, Cape Mental Health, a non-profit organisation that provides community-based services and support for persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, has held the kite festival, which includes the annual pop-up fly event at Melkbosstrand Beach, an EduKite ceremony where children learn to make kites, and a community fly in Heideveld.

Children with intellectual disabilities from preschools in Heideveld, Khayelitsha, and Mitchell’s Plain joined the fly event on Wednesday October 23, at the Heideveld Sports Field.

Kite maker and flyer Mari Ware-lane, from Brackenfell, displayed some of her kites at the event and entertained the children with a bubble machine.

She has been making kites since 2003 after she took her son to the beach to fly kites and she and her husband, Ashley, found their love for kite flying. From there they bought different kinds of kites, made kites, and attended kite-flying events.

“Our kites stop traffic when we fly on a Sunday in Blouberg. My pink panther is my ultimate kite,” she said.

Cape Mental Health CEO Dr Ingrid Daniels said that it was important to bring the kites to the community because many children with disabilities had trouble getting out to the main event in Melkbosstrand.

“There is a message of inclusion for children with disabilities. Children in the area can see and enjoy the kites as well as the rest of the community who can just enjoy a mental health moment,” she said.

Brackenfell kite maker and flyer Mari Ware-lane brought her bubble machine to entertain the kids.

Tony Jetland, from California, USA, also flew his kite.

Children were also taught the importance of recycling.

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Children enjoy kites and bubbles in Heideveld