The Hout Bay Children’s Programmes project provides early childhood development services and care to the poor in the community of Imizamo Yethu near Hout Bay in South Africa.
This project services an Educare Centre in the morning and two separate after-school programmes in the afternoon volunteers may choose from.
Educare Centre:
The Educare Centre offers basic care and preschool and also provides two warm, nutritious meals, snacks and fresh fruit and yoghurt.
Children are cared for in a loving environment and are taught Christian values and simple life skills, and are prepared for formal schooling by employing teachers from the community and empowering them to become excellent professional educators.
Their mission is to give the children that vital head start for successful lives in the future South Africa.
Since 1999 the school has grown and now cares for almost 300 children between the ages of 1 and 6 years, with 18 staff members from the community. The Educare Centre consists of 11 classrooms, 17 toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, 2 offices, a covered veranda and a large playground.
After-School Programmes & Education Hub:
The projects' core work is to provide a safe and nurturing space for vulnerable children between the ages of 6 and 12 years who have suffered from the effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and other stressful life circumstances.
These programmes offer a structured, holistic after-school care programme and a family support centre including:
- Homework assistance
- Academic performance assistance
- Literacy and numeracy skills as well as life skills
- Gardening
- Psycho-social activities
- Counselling as well as assistance in emotional resilience to negative life events
Six out of ten children live in multidimensional poverty. This makes them vulnerable to abuse and trauma, which again leads to psycho-social problems in their young adult life.
Research shows the development of emotional intelligence, along with academic support, has the potential to help sustain learners in school and improve their prospects of employment, further education, and training.
Education brings hope for the future and promotes self-worth and dignity. All people should have the right to these.
