The Kids Haven Bridging Programme
The aim of the Bridging Programme is to bridge the gap from long-
If the child is too old or cannot be placed into formal school, he/she will be moved into the Youth Skills Development Programme.
There are 4 teachers responsible for 4 classes of children who are placed according to age and ability. This includes a teacher who is responsible for the Computer Centre and associated classes. International volunteers assist the teachers.
Pupils are taught Numeracy and literacy according to their level of prior education. At the same time, they learn how to build up their concentration span and daily routine through daily attendance. There are also practical skills and arts and crafts classes between 11:30 and 1:00 every day.
The overall result of the Bridging Programme is improved self-
Kids Haven aims to place 20 children per year into formal schooling from the Bridging programme. Sometimes it is more critical to consider the child’s behaviour rather than his/her academic ability in order for them to successfully integrate into the school social system.
Children are placed at an appropriate Formal school as soon as the Staff at the Bridging Programme considers that he/she is ready for the move. The teachers also consult with Management and other Childcare workers to ensure that the child is considered ‘stable’ and well on the road to rehabilitation before the placement is made. This move is considered extremely important in the holistic development of the child and decisions are not taken quickly. An appropriate move to a Formal school can add enormously to the child’s self esteem and continued success in the programmes offered at Kids Haven. The placement in school is a fundamental part of the transition programme to the Kids Haven Village or back home.
Formal schools can also test the children’s ability to withstand peer pressure while still living in the secure environment of Kids Haven. This is the often a first step to successful social reintegration of the child.
Schools prefer to accept children only in January and July. Kids Haven aims to send at least 20 children to formal school per year.
We are very proud of our girls who attend the Oprah Academy of Leadership. The children must maintain an aggregate of 60% to continue in the School, demonstrate good values and good behaviour and participate in extra mural activities.
The purpose of the Youth Skills programme is to provide training for the older children
who are unable to attend local schools because of age constraints and poor basic
education. It is our desire to enable this group of children to be able to find
employment so that they may gain self-
There is one Social Worker who is responsible for managing this programme. Her activities include having weekly 1:1 discussions, assisting with paperwork such as identity documents and bank accounts and seeking training and job placements for the youth. She also visits employers to check that the working youth are treated appropriately and that everyone is satisfied with the working arrangements.
The youths are included onto the Maintenance programme as “Assistants” where they help with the general maintenance of the facilities at Kids Haven. The youth is taught work ethics above all else.
At this stage, some young adults may be linked to other entrepreneurial service programmes outside the Organisation e.g. bricklaying or plumbing etc. Unfortunately many of these programmes require an established minimum level of education and some youngsters are not eligible for enrolment. Kids Haven has a small bakery that was installed in July 2008. Groups of youth have received training in this bakery, and two Youth have been employed in local bakeries as a result of their training.
The goal of this programme is job placement. Once a youth has been working for 3
months, he/she will need to move out of the Shelter. Kids Haven will assist with
looking for suitable accommodation and provide furniture etc. as start-
Kids Haven provides intensive remediation lessons to certain children who, with support, will manage the change into ‘better’ schools. This has a long lasting impact on the level of grade reached and potential Matric results. This programme relies fully on funding.
During 2008, several children attended remedial classes at the Tina Cowley School of reading, the Kumon Maths Centre and the Northmead Education Centre (NEC) (secondary school pupils). The NEC has praised the learners from Kids Haven for their good behaviour and diligent application to the tasks.
The desired outcome of this Programme is to stimulate the children and involve them in the community through sports and recreation. Some children participate in activities hosted by private Clubs while other children participate in sports activities provided at Kids Haven, for instance soccer, netball and swimming.
The benefits of a Sports and Recreation Programme such as this are many:
Sporting needs and talents are identified.
Children are kept busy and active – resulting in less behaviour problems
Children learn conflict resolution, discipline and team work.
Children gain improved self-
Children are provided with an alternative to living on the streets.