WHAT WE DO

We accompany and assist communities on their journey to identify and access opportunities to effect sustainable improvement of their living standards (quality of life) while giving hope.

Social Work

Since 2013, HOPE Cape Town has employed a social worker to provide services in the poorly resourced communities of Delft, Blikkiesdorp and Manenberg.

This ongoing assistance and support has led to a strong relationship between community members and HOPE Cape Town.

The goal of the HOPE Cape Town social services is to provide social service support to improve stability and enhance personal growth within the community.

This is achieved through:

providing information regarding application of official documents and grants
psychosocial counselling of community members
referral to other community resources (e.g. alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation)
assisting and supporting caregivers with placement of children in schools

Another focus is to provide therapeutic programs to support children (and their caregivers) with developmental and psycho-social problems.

This is provided mainly through our Community Outreach Centre in Blikkiesdorp. Here, our social worker runs a playgroup for children not attending school (for various reasons). While, the social worker works with the caregivers to get the children into school – the playgroup provides some learning and play stimulation during their days. Children receive breakfast and lunch, as well as a safe place to play and develop social skills, learning and motor skills; while getting used to a ‘school’ environment.

This service has further developed into an after-school care for those children now attending school. Our social worker maintains ongoing support with the families providing a safe place to complete homework and play in the afternoons. These families also are provided with school uniform and stationery assistance.

In Manenberg, the social worker assists at the partner NGO Manenberg Aftercare Centre, providing play therapy and psycho-social support to some families.

Blikkiesdorp

A Holistic Approach

HOPE Cape Town has operated the community outreach centre in Blikkiesdorp for more than ten years and has the reputation of being community-centric in the delivery of services and programmes. The objective is to increase and improve the contribution to the empowerment of marginalized communities where the activities focus on:

First 1 000 Days programme for new mothers, babies and toddlers
Early learning and school preparedness for pre-school children
Literacy and Numeracy assistance and school retention for primary school learners
Improving Maths and English and information technology and school retention for highschool learners
Dual Vocational Training and Education for Youth
Social services, community health services, sport & recreation and food security for all

Community empowerment and influence can happen when groups are equipped with a spectrum of tools and tactics for influencing their future and quality of life. To achieve this, we need to fill the gap between the current situation and the desired situation according to the needs of the communities through the following objectives and interventions:

Engage with the Department of Health, Department of Social Development, Department of Basic Education to identify and address the needs of the community at community level
Equip children with the necessary skills and opportunities to reach their full potential
Accompany communities on their journey to identify and access opportunities to effect sustainable improvement of their living standards and quality of life

1. Engage with Department of Health to identify needs and ways to address them at community level:

Occupational Therapist sessions
Visits from municipal clinic healthcare officers to conduct medical examinations for babies, children and adults
Psychosocial consultations around substance abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence
HIV and TB testing and counselling

2. Equip children with the skills and opportunities to reach their full potential:

School preparation for children of school going age not attending school
Social Worker assistance for parents/guardians to enrol children in a public school
After-School academic assistance in numeracy and literacy
School holiday programme entertainment, sports and games
School uniforms, stationery, books and supplies distribution project

3. Community Outreach:

Community garden
Soup kitchen
Emergency response
Wellness days
Venue for other organisations – NGOs/government
Participating in civil society forums
Social clubs

Conclusion

Since its inception the centre has become a safe space for the community, especially for the children.

The HOPE Cape Town staff and volunteers are seen as role models as they enable people to develop their skills and knowledge.

For most of the children who attend the different programmes at the centre it is often the only time that they receive a nutritious meal and supervised but carefree play, hence the centre is a beacon of hope as well as a “home from home” since many of them identify their own families with words such as neglect, violence and abuse.

The HOPE Community Outreach Centre in Blikkiesdorp is dependent on sponsorships and mainly funded by long term supporters HOPE and Future e.V. from Münster, Germany.

WHAT WE DO

Outreach

A Holistic Approach

Conclusion

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