The Community Outreach Centre at the container village in Blikkiesdorp has been a place of learning, school preparation, homework help and many social services since 2009. Here HOPE Cape Town maintains and grows an environment 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 a playgroup facilitated by an Auxillary social worker and supported by volunteers, where the children are taught foundational skills. 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.
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.
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 is powerful tool and provides all-round development in all developmental areas needed throughout one’s lifespan. This safe space provides various play opportunities for specific groups of children and their carers or ECD providers. Here, play is used as a means for learning and development as well as an end goal. The space is set-up to encourage free play, guided play as well as structured play.
Currently, the Grade R uses the space for the learners to engage in playful learning and free play. Caregivers attending the support groups bring their children to the Play Lab for a supervised play session while they attend their meeting.
Exciting future developments are underway to use the Play Lab play space to support early childhood development schools and centres within the community and support their teachers who are providing inclusive education.
(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.
