Thabang Children’s Project NPC is registered by the Department of Social Development as a Child and Youth Care Centre according to the South African Children Act 38 2005, and as a Nonprofit-Organisation Registration No. 177-275. It provides residential care for 32 children in need, focusing on the growth and development of children and youth in different contexts such as the family and the community.
At Thabang we believe that children should be educated in a safe and supportive environment where their special academic needs can be successfully addressed.
Most of our primary school learners are taught onsite where they can be supported by our social worker and tutoring team. Their academic progress is monitored by our general manager and our academic coordinator in line with the department of basic education’s guidelines.
We are registered with the Pestalozzi Trust who protects the rights of home schooling in South Africa. Our tutors and volunteers also assist learners who are enrolled in public and private schools with their homework and tasks, lightening the load on the carers at the centre.
It is of vital importance that our children are taught skills that could assist them in generating an income once they exit Thabang. It also gives them a sense of achievement as they create beautiful arts and crafts.
Our skills development team and volunteers from the community teach children the basic skills of knitting, crochet, woodwork, leather work and different types of skills.
Children are also taught computer skills that could help them with homework, school projects and placing them in a better position when applying for a job one day.
Sports play such a vital role in the development of children, whether or not you are a natural athlete or someone who doesn’t like to move. The physical and social benefits of sports are huge if the mentoring approach is correct.
We are trying to create an environment where children can enjoy movement, challenging themselves and their friends on the sports field. We are fortunate to have a multi-purpose court where sports such as tennis, netball, soccer, hockey and cricket can be played.
The home school learners receive tennis coaching every Thursday morning from a nationally registered level 1 tennis coach.
The boys are registered in the local soccer league and our children are also doing a variety of sports through some of the school leagues.
Some of our cultural activities include Heritage Day, Mandela day, Annual Talent Show and Debate as well as Marimba. Our children come from different cultural backgrounds and it is always a colourful event when we celebrate their heritage. They are also blessed with so many talents, from singing to dancing to playing the Marimba instruments.
Our Marimba band has proven themselves on the world stage by winning the Talent of the Universe musical competition where more than 23 countries took part and they won the youth band category. One of the big events on our calendar is the debate competition where contestants battle it out to be crowned junior and senior winners.
Throughout the year we run different kinds of projects where the focus remains on the development of our children, whether through Christmas celebrations or visits from churches and other groups. It is important for us that the local community is involved and this is evident with the involvement of the local churches and businesses. We also have visits to the centre from Christian groups like Shofar twice a year and visits from representatives of We Buy Cars, Chamberlain, Red Path Mining and other organisations.
We also take children on annual trips and outings where they can experience the ‘outside world’ in an organised and safe manner. Some of these outings consist of visits to Aventura waterworld, wild life sanctuaries, shopping malls and family restaurants. These outings, which play an important role in ensuring our children experience society around them, are mostly sponsored by individuals and businesses caring for the well-being of our children.
The centre has a behaviour management system that we apply to modify behaviour but at the same time encourage good behaviour based on privileges and punishment or losing privileges. Group A is the best behaved and group D has challenges to overcome. We have House Rules that explain what is expected and what the punishment is for not abiding by the rules. The children have access to it in their respective sides on the billboards in the dining rooms.
All behaviour, concerns, issues are kept on record on an incident form that the child has to sign when the outcome is discipline. When it is a concern, it is referred to the social worker who keeps record of all incident forms as part of their confidential files in a locked cupboard.
We have monthly children’s meetings where issues from children are discussed and good behaviour is acknowledged by means of nominations and awards to:
Thabang Children’s Project assists older children once they turn 18 years of age. This includes job seeking and finding a place to live. Youth who obtain their Matric or Grade 12 with good results and desire to study further, receive guidance and support from Thabang to apply for tertiary studies. Thanks to donors these students are supported with the initial finances to start off their academic courses.
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