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 to ensure that every family receives a variety of care and support. You don’t have to do everything – you can know what is ‘out there’ and then refer families to what they need.
We encourage churches to know their community and map out who is offering what service. Here is one of our tools that can help you with community-specific resources and programmes: https://sikunye.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Know-your-community.pdf
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of national service providers, Non-governmental organisations and online resources that can form part of your village of support and care for families. Who are we missing? We would love to hear about organisations you know of so we can point people to them, too.
FTD programmes and courses
Flourish
Flourish – this national network offering ‘Pregnancy classes’ and ‘Mom & Baby classes’ that available in your neighbourhood or online.
Email: flourish@growgreat.co.za
Call them: +27 87 148 9810
Visit their website: https://flourishnetwork.org.za/
Contact Flourish to find out if there is a Flourish host near your church
If yes,
- You can get to know your local Flourish host and find out more about her groups, and how you can join hands with her to see more mothers accessing her groups.
- Your church can refer mothers to her groups and promote her groups.
- Your church venue can become a safe space for the Flourish host to run her classes.
If there isn’t a host in your area
Ask about the process of finding women in your area or church who can be trained to become a host to make this offering available in your area. Suggestion: a member of your church can be trained to become a Flourish franchisee.
More information about hosting a class and becoming a flourish host: https://flourishnetwork.org.za/become-a-host/who-is-a-flourish-host/
Heartlines: Fathers Matter
Fathers Matter is a Heartlines project to support the positive role of men in the lives of children in South Africa.
Email: fathersmatter@heartlines.org.za or info@heartlines.org.za
Call them: +27 11 771 2540
Visit their website: https://www.heartlines.org.za/fathers-matter/home
Resources for churches: https://www.heartlines.org.za/fathers-matter/churches
Heartlines has an extensive network of reps and team members who support churches in running Heartlines programmes. There are several ways for churches to engage with Fathers Matter.
Contact Fathers Matter to find out:
How Connect Groups work and how your church can promote active positive presence of men in the lives of children.
Petra Institute
Petra Institute – works to build communities where children are welcome. They work with churches and organisations to understand God’s heart for children.
Email: info@petra.co.za
Call them: +27 82 446 2274
Visit their website: https://www.petra.co.za/
Petra have developed a short course for parents to guide them in nurturing the spiritual growth and relationship of their child in the first thousand days. Read more about their course ‘God, my baby and I’ course https://www.petra.co.za/first-1000-days/
Contact Petra to find out more about this training and how you can access it as well as their other children’s ministry trainings that are available.
Superbook
Superbook is the Bible brought to life through animation to introduce children to Jesus and help develop their faith. Explore their website and app to share with parents. There are many activities that parents and caregivers can do with their children.
Visit their website: https://za-en.superbook.cbn.com/
Download the free Bible App here: https://za-en.superbook.cbn.com/app
Video promo: https://youtu.be/zXabU2SGU3c
Maternal and infant mental health
If mom is struggling with depression or anxiety, it is important to refer her to professional service. She can visit her local clinic and speak to the nurse, or she can contact SADAG or organisations working in your area (e.g. FAMSA, or private counselling services).
SADAG
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is a free mental health service. Give mom the SADAG number to call for free or you can go online and leave her details (with her permission) to be called back.
Contact details:
To contact a counsellor between 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday Call: 011 234 4837
Suicide crisis helpline: 0800 567 567
24hr Helpline: 0800 456 789
WhatsApp: 076 882 2775 (Cipla chat line) or 087 163 2030 (Maybelline BraveTogether)
Visit their website: https://www.sadag.org/
Email: zane@sadag.org
Opportunities for early learning and stimulation
Websites, applications and activities for parents to use to help stimulate and grow their babies’ brains.
Vroom
Vroom is a global program. They believe all parents have the potential to create a bright future for their children. They offer free, science-based tips and tools to help parents and caregivers give children a great start in life today—and an even better future.
1000’s of tips for everyday activities that build children’s brains.
- Available on the Vroom App or on the Vroom website
- You can download activity tips and print them.
Visit their website: https://www.vroom.org/
Book Dash
Book Dash is a South African, not-for-profit publisher of African picture books for very young children. Their vision is that ‘every child should own a hundred books by the age of five’.
Access over 200 books in all 11 official South African languages. On the book dash website or App were you can read or download or listen to the audio-version of the book.
Visit their website: https://bookdash.org/books/
Download the Book Dash app: HERE (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.bookdash.android )
Email: team@bookdash.org
Tel: 021 206 7868
Nal'iBali
Nal’ibali is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign to spark children’s potential through storytelling and reading from birth to 12 years of age, across South Africa.
Visit their website: https://www.nalibali.org/ to find: Stories (https://www.nalibali.org/stories), books, printed materials in the newspaper; written stories; audio stories; video stories; activity sheets and printables; guides and tips and much more.
Contact them: to find out more about how you can access their programmes and training and materials. https://www.nalibali.org/get-involved/contact-us
Tel: 021 448 6000
Wordworks
Wordworks https://www.wordworks.org.za/ is a South African non-profit organisation that focuses on early language and literacy development in the first eight years of children’s lives. The have various programmes and materials that can be accessed to work with parents and caregivers in developing early literacy.
Resources for parents: https://wwhomeliteracy.org.za/
Website: Play and learning, everyday activities for parents to do with their children: https://wwhomeliteracy.org.za/play-learn-activities-menu
Wordworks Moblie App: https://wwhomeliteracy.org.za/wordworks_app/
Every Word Counts programme for caregivers of babies and young children. https://www.wordworks.org.za/our-early-literacy-programmes/
Email: info@wordworks.org.za
Tel: 021 788 9233
Visit their website: https://www.wordworks.org.za/
Mikhulu Trust
Mikhulu Trust is an Early Childhood Development organisation that focuses on developing evidence-based programmes for parents and caregivers of young children. Their flagship programme ‘Book-sharing’ uses wordless picture books to create a special kind of interaction between the adult and the young child.
- Find out more about book-sharing here: https://mikhulutrust.org/what-we-do/book-sharing/ This might be a programme you want to offer in your church or area.
Access wordless picture books here: https://mikhulutrust.org/what-we-do/wordless-picture-books/
Email: info@mikhulutrust.org
Tel: 072 295 5959
Visit their website: https://mikhulutrust.org/
What other national organisations and services should we be promoting? We’d love to hear from you.
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