
An inclusive approach grounded in relationships is a key ingredient for community building.
Dlalanathi was founded on World AIDS Day in 2000 in response to the devastating loss of life in KZN due to AIDS. Dlalanathi uses play and parenting interventions at family level to build responsive supportive relationships between adults and children, in vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on emotional and mental health. What began as a response to bereaved children and families has expanded over time to building community-based capacity to strengthen and sustain emotional care to children though Play, Parenting and Child Protection. Working at individual, family and community level, Dlalanathi provides direct services, trains and mentors community members and develops new programs in response to needs identified in community.
In an external evaluation conducted in an exited community we found evidence of sustainability of Dlalanathi’s work in several ways:
- Sustained change at individual level in terms of healing, confidence and self-esteem
- Sustained change in relationships between adults working together
- Sustained relationships between adults and children
- Sustained practices, skills and actions within families increasing play, responsive care and child protection
- Sustained outreach or service to children and families by those trained
What has enabled us to achieve this level of sustainability, enabling us to leave communities to continue supporting the emotional wellbeing of children? This is a great question, let me tell you.
Dlalanathi believes deeply in the power of relationship. Every aspect of our work is built on modeling relationship with self and with others so that parents and caregivers experience what if feels like to know safety, belonging and dignity with another person. This process is an invitation to explore new ways of being with your child which is playful and emotionally responsive and builds new skills in listening and communication. For something to be sustained it needs to make meaning for you first and then you can make it real for your child.
Building the capacity of local adults in the community who are passionate about taking action to support children and families means that skill and knowledge resides within the community and is not dependent on Dlalanathi. Mentoring in practice over time results in highly skilled individuals who work together to advocate on behalf of children to ensure that they have safe spaces to play and safe adult relationships that they can go to, to ask for help. These people are never doing Dlalanathi’s work. They respond to their vision and what meets the need of the present.
Resource mapping with parents/caregivers, community members and stakeholders enables a community to assess what exists to support children. What are the resources or services available, how are they accessed, who are the safe people, places and practices that can support optimal development of a child and ensuring that these conversations remain on the community’s agenda.
And finally, enabling children to be active participants in their lives at home and in their communities. Listen to children’s voices builds emotional muscle and confidence and allows them to feel like they are valued members of their families and community. Children have contribution to make and when given the opportunity can find solutions that enable them to thrive.
Opinion piece written by: Robyn Hennes from Dlalanathi for the HCI Foundation – conversations titled building thriving and sustainable communities’ series.