AKHANANI HOME BASE FOUR SUCCESSFUL STORIES

we have visited primary schools to conduct protective behaviour workshops. find details of the workshop below.

PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOUR WORKSHOPS

Protective Behaviours (PB) is a practical, empowering approach to personal safety. It is a process that encourages and develops self-confidence together with skills that help us avoid being victimised. This is achieved by recognising our personal concept of safety, trusting our intuitive feelings (early warning signs) that tell us when we are feeling unsafe and developing strategies for self-protection. The Protective Behaviours process links safety with fun and excitement and an adventurous approach to life

Protective Behaviours (PB’s) helps children and adults to develop safety awareness and resilience building which helps us to recognise any situation where they feel worried or unsafe, such as feeling stressed, bullied or threatened; and explores practical ways to keep safe.

During the workshop at the primary school.

AKHANANI HOME BASE’S APPROACH TOWARDS SAFETY AWARENESS:

At AKHANANI HOME BASE we integrate the PB workshops with most of our existing programmes, or we can run stand-alone PB workshops for children or adults. It is recommended training for parents, to help their children develop safety awareness.

SAFETY

We all have a right to feel safe at all times It is important for us to inform children that so each and every one of them know that when they do not feel safe they have a right to speak up and tell someone so that they can take action to make them feel safe again.

TOUCHES

Safe and unsafe touches When a safe touch like a hug becomes unsafe, it’s difficult to tell the difference. Children need to know that whenever they feel uncomfortable with any one that they have the right to say no. They have a right to refuse a hug or handshake if the situation makes them feel uncomfortable.

SECRETS

Safe and unsafe secrets Children are not always aware that there are two different types of secrets. A safe secret is when more than 1 person knows about it and when others find out they will be happy to hear about it e.g. a surprise party. Unsafe secrets is when only one person knows about it and when others find out they will not be happy about it e.g. someone is bullying you

SPEAK OUT

You have the right to speak to anyone about anything no matter what it is. We all have the right to speak to a trusted adult about anything good or bad at any time. We have a right to be heard and for action to be taken when needed. We have a right to have a safety network of people to speak to when we feel unsafe and we must remember not to give up if it seems one person is not listening. The workshop was a success.

sporting activities

A healthy body, a healthy mind.

AKHANANI HOME BASE’s sport programmes include both integrated physical activities, such as exercise and sport during the afterschool. We have a partnership with a regional cricket club for the cricket programme. Our sport and exercise activities have the following objectives:

• To promote a healthy and active lifestyle through participation in sport

• To promote discipline

• To promote the participation of children in the sport towards provincial and national level where they show promise

cricket (AGE 7+)

Benefits of the cricket programme:

Physical development: Muscle strength and conditioning, Motor skills, flexibility, agility, general fitness; mental Development: Focus, concentration, orientation and coordination. Emotional Development: Feel good activities through games. Develop a sense of achievement through the training methods that shows progression and improvement and give recognition to the children. Technical Knowledge: Basic Cricket technical skills that will allow children to be integrated into any other cricket school post Akhanani Home Base. Discipline: Traditional techniques and methods will be used to assist children with general etiquette and manners as well as response and interaction with each other and instructors/teachers.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRES (ECD)

WHAT IS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT?

Evidence from across the world demonstrates that access to early learning stimulation in the preschool years significantly enhances the ability of children from impoverished backgrounds to benefit from schooling. In South Africa, there are roughly five million children under five years of age. Unless things change, half of these children will never be exposed to any form of out-of-home learning experience. Therein lies a massive opportunity, if we give every child the benefit of quality early childhood development, especially in underprivileged communities.

PROGRAMMES INCLUDED AT AKHANANI HOME BASE’S ECD CENTRES

NUTRITION

AKHANANI HOME BASE’s nutrition programme has been improved to address the malnutrition and underweight challenges some of the children have been identified with. The ECD Menu meets the dietary requirements as per the guidelines of the Essential Package. Nutritional meals are prepared to ensure healthy brain development, improvement of the little ones’ learning capacity and physical development. We remain thankful to partners such as Tshwaranang Resource Centre and Home Africa who are helping us to sustain a healthy meal plan for the children.

READING CLUB

Our reading clubs are safe, informal spaces where children and youth can freely arrive to engage with books and stories. It is an opportunity develop a love for books and reading culture in communities.

WHY READING CLUBS?

This programme is aimed at developing a love for reading, books and stories. Through creating a culture of enjoyment to read we support literacy programmes and will be improving children’s ability to read. Simply put – we support reading clubs, because we believe it’s the best way to improve reading and writing skills. To promote a love for reading, literature and creative writing. To expose learners to various texts and possible careers in writing and editing. Story telling; reading, creative writing; create a love for reading amongst children through interactive reading and storytelling activities; assist children with basic building blocks for age appropriate reading and storytelling activities; encourage and promote reading for enjoyment to; and be implemented at school and within the home.

AT AKHANANI HOME BASE WE HAVE NAL’IBALI READING CLUB, targeting children age 6-12years

Every Wednesday afternoon the Nalíbali Reading Club meets to read, write and share stories

Figure 3 reading session - Picture