Child, youth & parenting

Building tomorrow together through after-school care

Our child, youth, and parenting programme

Where children find safety through after-school care, youth discover new experiences through sports, activities, and leadership, and parents learn to build stronger families. Our after-school programme provides children with a nurturing and supportive environment during critical after-school hours, reducing their vulnerability to crime, substance abuse, and truancy.

Afternoon Angels

Community-driven aftercare

Many children fall victim to physical and sexual abuse in their communities. That’s why we equip 34 dedicated women across 28 Afternoon Angels sites in Cape Town’s townships with the tools and resources to provide safe, nurturing after-school care for the 1890 children who need it most.

Nutritious meals

Each day, the children in our Afternoon Angels programme receive balanced, nourishing meals that support their physical health and ability to focus, play, and learn.

Health screenings

We provide regular health screenings for children, including growth monitoring, vision and hearing screenings, and immunisation checks, ensuring their physical well-being is supported.

Emotional support

Our Afternoon Angels provide emotional care and companionship, helping children cope or seek active support for negative experiences that may occur at home, at school or in their neighbourhoods.

Educational support

Afternoon Angels also assist with homework and educational activities, helping children remain engaged with their schoolwork.

Engaging extracurricular activities

Children participate in enriching activities like chess, art, netball, soccer, and occasional excursions. These activities keep them engaged and expose them to valuable new skills and experiences.

Supervised environments

Our community-based workers create safe, supervised, and structured environments. This reduces exposure to risks such as crime and substance abuse, which are prevalent in their neighbourhoods.

Psycho-social referral services

If signs of abuse or neglect are detected, we ensure appropriate interventions are made.

Strengthening families, growing together

Working with parents and caregivers across township communities, we create spaces where traditional knowledge meets new approaches.

In 2023:

172 parents and caregivers graduated from eight parent training sessions across four communities.

Empowering youth with skills and leadership

Our programmes assist young people in enhancing their life skills, leadership, and career opportunities.

“I would recommend Ikamva Labantu’s afternoon programme to every child who wants to bring positive things to his or her life.”

Developing tomorrow's leaders

Our Habonim Dror partnership equips youth with essential life skills through focused workshops. From public speaking to children’s rights, participants build confidence and leadership capabilities for their future.

Ensuring safe spaces and skills development

Our Safety Marshals programme empowers unemployed young people to become mentors and coaches within their communities. Through child protection and sports training, these young leaders foster safe environments where children can flourish. By actively mentoring in soccer and netball, they gain leadership experience, earn an income, and develop employability skills through hands-on service for a brighter future.
Our Communiversity partnership prepares youth for tertiary education through intensive three-month preparation. This focused approach builds crucial study skills and creates clear paths to higher education.

Change a life forever, support Ikamva Labantu

Thank you for supporting the work we do.
You can transform lives in Cape Town’s townships. Your donations ensure that the children, young people, and parents we champion receive the support they need to thrive.