the first thousand days
From conception to age two – is a once-in-a-lifetime window of rapid brain and body development. During this time, a baby’s brain is shaped by every experience and interaction, whether positive or negative.
The good news? We know what helps children thrive. Even in tough circumstances, when families are supported with the right knowledge, tools and care, they can give their children the strong start they deserve.
Local churches are already at the heart of their communities: trusted, present, and ready. With the right tools, they can be the supportive village every family needs.
Launched in 2019, Sikunye has a tested approach to mobilise churches to support families to flourish.
a growing network of First Thousand Day-friendly churches
Churches contain remarkable social capital and can be mobilised to be the supportive community that families need. They have inherent strengths and assets, a wide reach, are contextually relevant and can play an important part in a Whole of Society Approach to seeing children thrive.
Resources to impact families
This month’s featured topic: Responsive Caregiving
All children need five things (building blocks) to thrive in life. Responsive caregiving is one of the components of the nurturing care framework. It includes observing and responding to children’s movements, sounds, gestures and verbal requests.
Click the link below to view the Equip and Prepare page and learn more
the Sikunye monthly
Grab a cup of tea and catch up with us. Every month, we gather the stories, wins, and moments from churches and communities walking alongside families in the first thousand days. You’ll find encouragement from leaders on the ground, practical resources you can use straight away, and news on upcoming workshops and gatherings. Think of it as a letter from the village, for the village.
Stay connected.
Whether you’re a church leader, a volunteer, or just passionate about seeing families flourish – we’d love to keep you in the loop.
You can receive updates via WhatsApp, our monthly mailer, or follow us on social media.
