Stellenbosch-based NGO Community Keepers (CK) has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to enhancing resilience and promoting mental health and well-being among South African learners, their parents, teachers and community through socio-emotional (stat) learning opportunities. This recognition was conferred on CK by the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF).
The forum recognises innovation in South Africa and has a special category for NGOs that apply scientific and technical knowledge with proven impact.
“The awards ceremony took place during the school holidays after an exceptionally busy term,” Gerrit Laning, CEO of CK, said. “For a team that is usually on the giving end, recognition is rare, appreciated and very motivating so it is a fantastic way to start a new term.
“This month we have more than doubled in size (35 to 79 partner schools) and with growth came a burden of administrative work and risk of fatigue. This award is dedicated to the whole team. It certainly is a team effort. Peer review and recognition plays a role in funder confidence and we know that recognition of this nature will most certainly help us to retain and secure new funding.”
Laning says it is horrific to imagine that school going children (primary and high schools) are displaying signs of heightened anxiety, depression and are having suicidal thoughts. “Preventing and managing anxiety and depression is an important public health objective, especially for children and adolescents.
“CK has been working with the universities of Bath and Stellenbosch over the past five years exploring on the opportunity to build resilience as early as possible and reaching children through the school community. This work included a pilot and feasibility study of a CBT-based (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) psych-educational intervention to support psychological well-being.”
According to Laning mental-health problems often begin during childhood and in South Africa it is well known that the costs of mental-health services are high and that gaining access to these services is difficult.
“Consequently, many children and adolescents do not get the mental-health support they need. However, acknowledging the importance of schools as a location to promote mental health and well-being in children, and in partnership with researchers at Stellenbosch University (who led and received funding for the research) and the University of Bath (in the UK), Community Keepers have shown mental-health support can be delivered to all primary school-age children during regular school hours. The findings of this research were published on Friday 14 July in the academic journal, Child and Adolescent Mental Health.”
The researchers piloted a locally developed programme called, 4 Steps To My Future (4STMF). The researchers developed this programme in partnership with schools and Community Keepers in the Western Cape and conducted research in 2021 to explore its acceptability and feasibility. 4STMF is a universal (intended for all learners) intervention and consists of eight sessions that can be delivered by trained post-graduate students in psychology. The researchers found that the programme could fit in with the school curriculum and be delivered successfully during regular school hours, and learners and teachers enjoyed and liked the content.
The researchers also found that the content of the programme improved learners’ self-esteem and emotion regulation.
Researchers from Stellenbosch University and the University of Bath also published a paper on the lessons they learned from conducting this kind of research into mental health and well-being, and in it they speak about the importance of their collaboration with Community Keepers.
These findings were published in the academic journal, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
“We are fortunate to have great partnerships and we openly share resources data and findings,” Laning said. “Partners like Waves for Change do similar work and use similar measures, so we openly share and learn from each other. The more we learn the more children we can help and the more we can improve our programmes. Our door is always open and we are always on the lookout for new partners.”
CK, this month, opened rooms at another 44 schools as they expanded into other provinces (Gauteng and rural Eastern Cape) supported by the Jobs Fund.
“This brings our total reach to 50 000 learners and their caregivers (parents and educators) across 79 schools,” Laning said. “Reaching 50 000 learners is fantastic, but any successful solution needs to scale. We have a proven formula, and if everyone joins forces South Africa can build a culture of well-being where everyone can thrive.”
One of the tools CK uses is the WHO-5 which tracks subjective well-being using 5 questions and a rating scale. “You could colloquially refer to this as ‘taking the well-being temperature of the room’,” said Laning. “Doing so at routine intervals helps us track impact but also highlights hot spots where we then pause to question scores and possibly intervene. Dr Bronwyne Coetzee and her team at Stellenbosch University have also been instrumental in helping us to set this M&E system in place.”
Laning said there is currently a lot of focus on literacy and the recent PIRLS Report. “There is also a lot of focus on numeracy, or numeric literacy. Emotional literacy needs the same level of concern, attention and resources. On a practical note we need to play with our children and read to our children. Our highest referral reason for therapy is strained and broken relationships.”
