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PRESENTED BY: PHELIWE DUNGA AND

NOMBUSO MHLONGO

Introducing Isibindi“Isibindi” – a Zulu word meaning courageThe core of the Isibindi model is the provision of child and youth care services to children and youth in their homes by thetrained and supervised child and youth care workers (CYCWs). CYCWs connect with children and build relationships withthem through the use of daily life events – they help the family with basic household chores and educate about generalhygiene, gardening, health, nutrition, and household care. They cook together with children, teach basic life skills and buildresilience – using ordinary human interaction as a context and a means for transcending basic care to meet the emotionalneeds of children – especially in child headed and parentless families. This higher level engagement is described by one childburdened with the care of three younger siblings in the words “... Auntie helped me dream my dreams again...”

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Isibindi: The Context

Informal settlements

Historically disadvantaged communities

Poverty pockets

Deep rural

Key elements of the Isibindi Safe ParkSocial franchise

design for scale up

Embedded in a child rights framework

Reflective of SA and international policies and law

A child and youth care approach

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Continued…

Underlying focus on systemic change: women's empowerment, skills development, employment, career pathing,

youth employment, addressing gender stereotypes

Accessing resources to communities: animating communities

Children heading households need:• Places to play and socialize • Assurance that siblings are safe with access to adults and adult supervision • Safe places for self referral and aftercare • Programs that address their specific needs

Legislative Background“…the right to play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and the right to participate freely in cultural activities and the arts” (UNCRC Article 31)

The Children’s Act, 2005 as amended, provides for: • Early Intervention & Prevention • Child Protection

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Concept of Play

‘Play’ is understood as unstructured and free from adult direction (although it may be facilitated and overseen by adults), whereas ‘recreation’ includes structured, goal directed activities such as sports, performing and creative

arts, science and technology and games and spectator activities. Play is more about ‘being’ while recreation is more about ‘doing’. A shared characteristic of play and recreation is that they are not compulsory.

The UNCRC stipulates that children have the right to ‘play’ and‘ recreation’. These words are often used interchangeably but there are important differences (UNICEF, undated).

The Value of SwingsChildren’s swings are among the most popular playgroundequipment. But many maintain that swings are not valuablefor children’s development and some consider themhazardous.

However research demonstrates that swings are beneficialfor physical , social, and cognitive development, and theyoffer certain therapeutic benefits. They promote movementand perceptual skills, spatial awareness, general fitness,social interaction, mental representation, and sensoryintegration, including balance.

(Frost et al, 2004)

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Safe Park Background

Concept developed in 2002

In 2009 research was undertaken of 35 Isibindi Safe Parks reaching 13 368 children a year

Guidelines were developed to standardise Safe practice

Safe Park Committees were designed for young people to be part of the Decision-making and the Planning of activities at the safe park.

Isibindi Safe ParksInformal Parks Formal Parks

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Structure of Formal Safe Parks

Toilet/water facilities

Land officially allocated (Municipality/Traditional Leaders)

Fenced and equipped with play equipment

Child and youth friendly equipment

Office/storage container

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Structure of Informal Safe Parks

Gazebos

CYCWs negotiate for any piece of land 7 bags of

toys/equipment (Toy Library Association)Buntings/plastic fencing/emergency tape

Plastic Mattresses/pillows

Water bottle desks

Cones for soccer matches

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Process for setting up Informal Parks

Set up park daily Store bags when done Establish boundaries- safety & protection

Rotating bags of different activities Local/community homes for water and toilet facilities

Activities in Safe Park include:Sports fixtures Arts & crafts

Homework supervision Health care ADP

Robotics Educational support Toy library

Indoor/board games

ECD programs

Holiday programs Youth Forums Free play

Expressive & cultural

activitiesFood

gardening

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My fingers prints ,made me feel special .The last time I did something like that was when my granny took me to sassa for a grant.

It felt good to write my very own story and it’s my very own Lifebook .

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• I feel cared for by Child and Youth Care Workers

• I feel happy because I play anything I want

• We play and act stories • It’s nice here• I take a break from home and

play with other kids• I see other young people I feel

better.•

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Children learning rhymes and holding hands as a sign of unity and social connectedness

Youth Friendly Safe Parks

Children radio programmes – young reporters

Trained Youth Development Facilitators

Functional Youth

Forums

Education program, career fair &

entrepreneurship program

Income generating initiatives

Food gardening for youth

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ECD in Safe Parks A specific program for children under 6 years of age – playgroups

Isibindi Convergence Safe Park Model Advancing effective cross-departmental coordination of interventions that promote

child development

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Internationalizing the Isibindi Safe Park Model: Zambia

Replication of the Isibindi Safe Park Model in Zambia inpartnership with the ZACCW

Replication of the Isibindi Safe Park Model in Solweziin partnership with UNHCR

Internationalizing the Isibindi Safe Park Model: Solwezi

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Replication of the Isibindi Safe Park Model in Kenya in partnership with KACCW

Internationalizing the Isibindi Safe Park Model: Kenya

Internationalizing the Isibindi Safe Park Model: Lebanon

Replication of the Isibindi Safe Park Model in Lebanon in partnership with FICE

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