Author - Common Good

The role dads have in supporting breastfeeding

Breastmilk has a profoundly positive impact on baby’s health. For optimal nutrition, baby only needs breastmilk in the first six months of life, after which complementary solids can be added. Ideally, mom continues to breastfeed until baby turns two. 1 Is breastfeeding a woman-only job? Is it only the mom...

The big WHY behind the Sikunye model

The tragic reality in South Africa is that up to half of our country’s children are not consistently receiving enough of what they need for optimal development. There are a range of risk factors at play, including: poverty, malnutrition and stunting, infectious diseases, environmental toxins, stress, violence, psychosocial risks, disrupted...

2023 – A year of taking new ground

At the end of each year, we have found it healthy to pause and reflect on what made the year unique. To explore themes, learnings, successes, and challenges, and look to the future with a sense of context. 2023 is no different. It was a year filled with 'firsts' and...

Positive messages for parents to encourage early learning

  Despite strong evidence of the importance of early brain development impacting future flourishing of children, public awareness remains low. All parents need access to support and information to help them give their children the best start to life. As Vroom says, “Everyone has what it takes to be a better...

Resources and programmes for you to support families

We know it takes a village to raise a child. And it takes more than a church leader or volunteer to provide all the information, support and resources a family needs in order to thrive. This is why Sikunye encourages churches to partner with other service providers in their community...

When does spiritual growth begin?

When Sikunye surveyed 74 church leaders about God’s heart for young children, everyone agreed: God’s loves young children. When we asked, however, what church practices were in place to care for and support these young lives, less than half had activities aimed at this age group. And those that did...

1000 churches for the first 1000 days

In 2023 there will be just over a million births in South Africa – every life precious and brimming with potential. Tragically, it is estimated that up to half of these young ones do not consistently receive enough of what they need for their brains to build essential foundations. To...

Gratitude in 2022

We are grateful for the growth, change and movement forward. We are grateful to hear stories of moms, dads and young children who have benefitted as a result. This year, we have seen the number of churches who have committed themselves to caring for families in the first thousand days grow...

One of the privileges of the work we do is we get to meet passionate, amazing people from all over the country! After more than two years of being online and running events on Zoom, we returned to the Breede Valley. It was wonderful to meet and see people in...

Why does my church need a child protection policy?

We are reminded daily that we live in an unsafe world. This is especially true for children! We do many things to protect ourselves. We install burglar bars, alarm systems, high walls, locked doors, armed response, insurance and much more. And we hope and pray that someone does not break...