WHAT WE DO

HOPE Cape Town’s Blikkiesdorp Community Outreach Centre provides a growth space where children of school going age who are not accessing formal schooling, can be prepared for school by well trained professionals and volunteers. Twice a week, the children attend the playgroup facilitated by an auxillary social worker and supported by volunteers, where the children are taught foundational skills and learn through play.

The reasons for these children not attending school are numerous social difficulties, many are unable to access formal education due to not having the correct documentation. 

Our social worker works tirelessly with the relevant government departments to ensure the school application process of these children by obtaining birth certificates and parents identity documents required for registration at school. She also assists the Gr7 learners with registration for Gr8 (high school) applications. 

HOPE Cape Town’s Occupational therapist fulfils a very important role towards the success of the Playgroup, assessing each child with respect to their developmental/educational process. 

A duplication of these services is also provided at The Nex by the Play Lab facilitator, for children living in the immediate surrounds.

Despite the efforts of teachers, learner support is often lacking in townships. In 2018, HOPE Cape Town established an afterschool programme where primary school children are supported to do their homework, have access to mentorship and additional educational material. High school learners also receive assistance with English and Maths lessons.

Children also receive assistance with school supplies, school uniforms, books and stationery.

The Bayerngarden Centre for Early Childhood Development provides various services focused on early childhood development utilising a play-based approach.

Grade R for children with special needs

We aim to provide a nurturing learning environment with extra support and attention for children with developmental delays or a neurodivergent diagnosis during their reception year (ages 5-6 years old) so that they can go on and thrive in further schooling. The small class size allows our experienced teaching staff to cater to their individual learning needs and provide optimal learning support. We follow CAPS and DCAPS national curriculum covering numeracy, language and life skills learning areas.

Children attending the Grade R also receive weekly occupational therapy, speech therapy and play therapy sessions. Therapy is focussed on helping them master developmental and learning skills to become fully engaged and capable learners.

Play Lab

The Play Lab is situated in the Bayerngarden Centre for Early Childhood Development at the Nex Indawo Yethu. It is a wonderful space that provides various play opportunities for specific groups of children, their carers, and their teachers. The Play Lab promotes play as a way to learn, and to support the development of young children in Delft.   

In the morning the Play Lab services are focussed on children aged 2 – 10 years. These services include:

 

– Play Group – for children who are school going age (5 – 8 years), who are not attending school.

 

– Play Care – Play Sessions for children with neurodiversity and physical disabilities, who’s parent attending monthly support groups.

 

– Come & Play – Outings to the Play Lab for local ECD centres. Come and Play gives local ECDs the opportunity to utilise the Play Lab space and resources, to extend their students’ learning outside of their classroom.

 

 

– Play Train –  a weekly group for caregivers and toddlers focused on strengthening their bond with their child through stimulating play activities and empowering young parents with positive parenting information. 

 

The Play Lab also offers afternoon activities. Extra mural activities give students the opportunity to expand their interests and make new friends. 

 

– Coder Dojo – is a coding club, that gives children an opportunity to explore digital technology and learn the basics of coding and robotics, with the support of other children and mentors. It forms part of an international movement of coding clubs (codeclub.org)

 

 

– FIRST Tech Challenge – FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition in which  teams (learners in grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance 

format. Teams are guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, and they develop STEM skills and practice engineering, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas.

– Hip Hop Dance Classes – Hip Hop is a form of dance that promotes creative expression through movement and promotes a positive self-image. Two hip hop classes have been established and take place on a Friday afternoon.

 

 

– Space Lab – Space Lab is a STEM program for grade 10 & 11 students from Delft to encourage Maths and Science thinking and research. Our current program is sponsored by Intelsat, who are the largest satellite company globally. They focus on satellite and internet communication to billions of people every day. The equipment for the program is made and sponsored by MAXIQ, whose aim is to create user friendly research kits for high school and university students, to create a clear “Pathway to studying courses related to STEM”.

(recreational activities, homework supervision, extra lessons)

Since the start of the 2023 academic year, HOPE Cape Town has partnered with a local NGO to manage and implement two after school programmes for primary and high secondary learners.

Providing a safe place for homework and tutoring, the volunteers assist children with homework supervision from Monday to Thursday (reading, mathematics, English and science) while Fridays are reserved for recreational and creative activities.

The Kap23 Youth Centre has become a place where young people can meet ‘just like that’; the so-called ‘chill’ room filled with board games, books and arts and crafts. In a suburb where violence dictates life on the street, such a place is of existential importance.