Through the newly rebranded edition of our Hands-on Learning publication developed in June 2023, we hope to play a helpful role in synthesising information from innovators and implementers in civil society, supporting them to share what they have learnt so that others can draw from and build on their experiences.
Putting children first: What can South Africa learn from other countries?
Early childhood development (ECD) is one of the most powerful levers to unlock South Africa’s potential and is recognised by government as a national priority. Yet the first nationally representative survey of pre-school children, Thrive by Five, found that 57% of children attending early learning programmes (ELPs) are not on track to meet normative development milestones (such as socio-emotional, cognitive and physical development) by age five. Skills beget skills, which means that the rate of return on investments in older children is determined by the size of investment in younger children. This learning brief takes stock of South Africa’s ECD landscape and explores what we can learn from countries facing similar predicaments.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Wraparound support for young people
South Africa’s youth bulge is significant and in an election year, we are reminded that young people have the power to shape South Africa’s future. Yet a third of young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET) due to the multiple and complex barriers that young people face in accessing and seizing opportunities. Effective support requires a coordinated response from local service providers who share an understanding of the realities of young people and a commitment to supporting their development. Wraparound support places young people at the centre and is intended to respond to individuals with a range of needs in a specific community. By design, this type and level, of support is different to one-dimensional interventions. This learning brief looks at the pioneering work conducted by Bumb’INGOMSO (BI) and its partners delivering multi-faceted HIV-prevention and youth development initiatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Productive communities
DGMT’s investment in agroecology seeks to respond to malnutrition, youth unemployment and food insecurity at the household level in a given community. We are interested in learning from civil society organisations (CSOs) focused on building sustainable local food systems, while enabling the transfer of skills and knowledge about agroecological farming practices and entrepreneurship. This brief explores how the Southern Africa Food Lab (SAFL), Siyavuna, the Seriti Institute, Thanda and Khulisa Social Solutions have done this for the benefit of the communities they work with.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Read the complete issue below magazine-style on ISSUU – choose full-screen mode [ ] for a better reading experience. Download the complete Hands-on Learning publication (Issue 27) as a PDF.
