Family Care
Kids Haven strengthens families and nurtures communities through parent support workshops, food gardens, providing a free community nursery school, a free inner-city teenage afterschool centre and taking action to prevent gender-based violence.
Community Pre-school
Kids Haven’s pre-school is a free, registered early childhood development (ECD) centre for families who cannot afford school fees and would not otherwise send their children to pre-school. The programme provides a strong educational foundation through a curriculum focused on play and learning. Children are collected from their homes and attend activities that prepare them for Grade R and Grade 1.
Additionally, Kids Haven supports parents by enrolling them in the Sihleng’imizi parenting programme, which helps develop parenting skills. We assist parents to manage Gauteng’s online admission system so that each child is assured of a place in big school. By focusing on early education and family support, Kids Haven strengthens families and sets children on a path to academic success.
Teen Hub
The Teen Hub at Kids Haven provides a safe, supportive space for inner-city teenagers. It is for those who attend school in the area and wait for transport at the end of the day. The programme provides opportunities for teens to engage in educational and recreational activities after school. All sessions are voluntary and free of charge.
It includes academic tutoring and computer classes, as well as extracurricular activities like sports, dance, and drama, supported by volunteers. The programme also facilitates discussions on topics such as children’s rights and responsibilities, sexual rights and personal responsibility. At its core, the Teen Hub builds trust and strong relationships, offering individualised support for teens facing challenges or needing extra help. It provides a unique space for teens to connect, learn, and grow.
Family Food Gardens
Kids Haven introduced the Family Food Gardens programme to address food insecurity in surrounding communities. It encourages families to create small gardens in their yards by providing seeds, tools, and guidance to grow vegetables. Kids Haven partners with skilled gardeners who mentor neighbours in maintaining these gardens and offers workshops on nutrition, hygiene, and basic financial literacy.
Since promoting yard gardens, Kids Haven is excited to witness communities coming together. At least 20% of the growers supplement their income by selling some of their produce each month. Additionally, there are typically between 100 and 250 gardens in operation at any given time.
Parent strengthening workshops
Kids Haven promotes relationship-parenting over consequence-parenting through various workshops. We offer one-day sessions on the 3 L’s of Parenting: loving, listening, and leading. Our successful multi-session workshops include Sihleng’imizi for parents of younger children and e-Connect Family Workshops for parents of teenagers. Parents receive a safe space to address challenges and improve relationships. Counselling services are also available to build resilience and strengthen family bonds, benefiting both parents and children. Additionally, Kids Haven provides free counselling services for those in need.
Mobilising against gender-based violence (GBV)
Kids Haven addresses gender-based violence (GBV) through a combination of support, education, and advocacy. We provide counselling for victims, especially children, helping them heal from trauma. Through a series of multi-session workshops for children of all ages, Kids Haven helps children understand childhood abuse and neglect, the importance of good friendships and limiting risky behaviour, and making good decisions for themselves. The workshops address intimate partner violence and provide information on where to get help if you are in trouble or want to help a friend or an adult. Kids Haven facilitates a series of five workshops for boys on gender and power. These sessions promote open discussions on patriarchy, violent games, bullying, stereotypes and expected behaviours of boys. Kids Haven facilitates the evidence-based Stepping Stones HIV and GBV prevention programme with young adults attending the Youth Hub. All workshops for children include sessions with their parents and caregivers too.
Kids Justice
Kids Haven supports families who are struggling to secure late birth registrations for citizenship to navigate the obligations of the Department of Home Affairs. The Kids Haven social worker interviews family members and describes the requirements to secure late birth registration. The social worker assists the family to compile the documents needed and attends interviews alongside the family where possible. Through the Kids Justice support, families are able to secure their citizenship and no longer remain invisible in our country. Without a document you are invisible. Being invisible means you are most likely not to realise your rights. Without rights, you are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and hardship – even illiteracy, no healthcare, and no work.
Contact us
Kids Haven provides invaluable care and support for children, young people and families.
Kids Haven | NPC: 2000/008607/08 | NPO: 004-661 | PBO: 13 00 00 458 | Registered Child and Youth Care Centre 12/2/3/2/114 and 12/2/3/2/192 | Registered Pre School 1000 877 317