Page 24 - Adopt-a-School Foundation 2016-2017 Annual Report

Thari Programme for the support of
Women and Children

Thari programme is a pilot programme
for the support of women and children in
Botshabelo and Diepsloot, funded by the
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. The objective
of the programme is to enable schools and
communities to provide a safe environment
that is inclusive, free from violence, is
academically effective, gender sensitive and
promotes health and well-being.

The programme is implemented through
two approaches namely:
South African Police Services are one of the key stakeholders in the Thari
• The provision of psychosocial support Programme’s multi-sectoral model
services for children and their families
through the Isibindi Ezikoleni Model
which includes a Safe Park at Reentseng
Primary School and home support
programmes for vulnerable children and
their families. This model is adopted from
the National Association of Child and
Youth Care Workers’s Isibindi Ezikolweni
model.
• A Multi-Sectoral Model which is a multi-
stakeholder network aimed at ensuring a
collaborative approach to address social
challenges that affect vulnerable women
and children, both in Botshabelo and
Diepsloot communities. Youth and Child Care workers running doll therapy workshops in the
temporary safe park.

What is a Safe Park?

• The safe park is a therapeutic space where children who have been identified with some
vulnerabilities and do not have support from home receive attention.
• Currently, 169 children are attending the informal safe park and are regularly engaged in
recreational activities and also attend the homework supervision sessions. The homework
supervision sessions allow for study time, homework completion and the opportunity to seek
assistance for subjects they are struggling with if they have no one at home to support them.
• A permanent safe park is under construction to open in September 2017.

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