Our COV19 response was mentioned in the Cape Argus this weekend. We recognise that lockdown can be super stressful for parents and children - and have been checking in lately with our Hard Knocks' families and sharing some resources to help manage their emotions at this time!
On Thursday 16th April SOHK Founder Scott Sloan was on Heart FM talking about the effect of lockdown on SA’s youth and how the organisation has responded.
SOHK CEO Scott Sloan says 'While we do South Africa proud by staying at home and caring for others, it's important that we continue to recognise our responsibilities for the wellbeing of our programme participants and even though we can't physically reach them at this point we are trying to respond as best we can to their needs. We are alert to the fact that our participants are at greater risk of violence and abuse in this time period and we look forward to having them back on the field at schools once we get through this crisis together. We want to extend this guide and wellness pack to the rest of South Africa. Exercising and meditating are just two ways to self-manage that can make a difference through this difficult period and it will assist in keeping children and adolescents healthy and happy.’
School of Hard Knocks are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of our adolescents during this difficult time. Here is how we have adapted during COV19:
To support physical distancing without emotional isolation we have been engaging our participants' parents and guardians telephonically, giving them access to counselling services or food vouchers if requested.
We have also sent out weekly easy-to-follow home activity guides for parents to conduct with their children, including a WellBeing guide aimed specifically at adolescents.
Knowing that lockdown will have affected each child differently, we have invested in trauma awareness training via accredited online courses so they are prepared adequately to conduct mentoring when children return.
We have adjusted our staff roles and programme design to keep jobs safe and accommodate the strictest child protection and health and safety guidelines.
We successfully fundraised for a Social Worker position so that we could help covid affected SOHK families get back on their feet and manage themselves and other during this stressful time.
I'm sure you are aware that the economic impact of COV19 has been costly, and as a result the financial security of the organisation is at risk. We'd love your help to ensure we can continue to meet the urgent and growing need for child friendly mental health care, both during and after lockdown.
For all the latest info on our COV19 response, follow our progress on Instagram and Facebook.
If you'd like to give to SOHK please go to our Donate page.
Our goal in 2020 was to reduce school drop out by 50%. Why? Finishing school increases your chances of finding employment dramatically and individuals with matric earn on average 39% more than those who don’t. Against our baseline of 37% dropout in our schools, only 15% of our students dropped out on average - that is a 41% improvement.
We are so proud of our Coach Urshwin who received a standing ovation at the ArtscapeTheatre a few Saturdays ago. He starred in a play about two Hanover Park men who struggle to find themselves in a neighbourhood that seems set on trapping them in a life of crime. Although not professionally trained, the play got rave reviews!
Urshwin came to SOHK with a wealth of experience in gang mediation and youth development and he's an incredible role model to young people from his community of Hanover Park. Find out more here! https://www.groundup.org.za/article/dont-miss-your-turning-point/
Charline Little is the Principle at Vista High School located at the top of Signal Hill in Bo Kaap. She was very eager to adopt School of Hard Knocks at her school because she is passionate about holistic learning and creating a better learning environment.
"I want to extend a huge thank you to you and the organisation for allowing Vista High to be a part of the programme. I have been extremely privileged to have observed the coaches interact with the learners, and it really fills me with so much joy to see the learners having so much fun, especially the ones who are extremely troublesome when in a normal class setting.
If you look at - the kids come to the school when SOHK is here. It’s changed. My class, 10C, [Tina] and them they are basically every day in school. They look forward to Wednesdays. And they ask me the day before is SOHK coming, we say they are coming and they are excited to do all these things.
Mrs Little’s colleague at Vista High added ‘if you look at the others their attitudes have changed towards the teachers, they have calmed down and they are working.’