Neurodivergent Workshop

Imatter@thenet

The Cape Flats has become infamous for the high school dropout rate and overcrowding in the homes of most of the children on the Cape Flats. WE started Imatter@thenet, an afterschool Care programme that made every child feel like they mattered. We trained retired persons in the community and setup a centre who provides learners with the following:

• Literacy skills
• Arts & crafts
• Learning through play

These activities instilled in the children confidence, moral values, discipline, healthy boundaries, kindness and acceptance in a safe environment with positive role models.

PROJECT AUSOME

During our engagements with the children and teenagers at Imatter we discovered that a number of them are neurodiverse. We then partnered with a Bio Kineticist, Ms Kayla Isaacs to create awareness on neurodiversity and the importance of exercise in neurodivergence. Since then, we have been organizing regular hikes and excursions.

We were approached for assistance by Belhar High School, so three of our team members completed the WCED’s training course for scribes to support learners with special educational needs.

Our second Phase is to explore job opportunities for Neurodiverse young adults. Through our partnership with the Living Link 1 of our young adults has participated in their job readiness programme.

We will continue to host Autism awareness and neurodiversity campaigns, to empower people from our communities to understand their children better. We are in the process of setting up support groups for these parents.

Hiking in Tokai Forest

Funday at Green Point Park

Gala Dinner at Claremont Civic Centre

Neurodivergent Wellness Day

FOOD SECURITY

Based on our engagements with the women we have been working with since 2001 it became apparent that there was a critical shortage of Food Security. During our quest to address this need an opportunity arose for us to partner with the Department of Agriculture in 2017 and since then we have established 721 Household Vegetable Gardens spread across the Cape Metropole, Cape Winelands and Swartland Districts.

Through our Garden Projects we aim to:

❖ Address food insecurity

❖ Combat Malnutrition

❖ Alleviate poverty

❖ Break the cycle of dependence

❖ Promote self-sustainability

❖ Restore dignity

We have therefore trained, pensioners, grant drawers, the unemployed and disabled people to establish organic food gardens in their own backyards so that less families will go to bed hungry in our impoverished communities and thereby promoting a healthier lifestyle. It has been encouraging to see children involved in the gardening projects