[LISTEN] A global perspective on local parenting at Home-Start

Home-Start International is a worldwide family support organisation which works with people who have parenting experience to support local parents.

November 15, 2018

Rivelle Govindsamy 2 minutes read

Joan van Niekerk (right) with a masters in medical and psychiatric social work, is past president of the International Society of the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. She was the previous director of Childline SA for nearly 10 years. She is with Benoni Home-Start director, Erica Strydom

Global director and ambassador of Home-Start Joan van Niekerk visited the Benoni branch recently.

Van Niekerk, who represents Home-Start worldwide, works within the international body to which Home-Start SA is affiliated and explained a few challenges the body faced when providing care to families, especially children.

“Parenting is one of the biggest challenges worldwide at present,” she said.

“Often people do not fully acknowledge that a family is a child’s very first protection system.

“A lack of (good) parenting impacts on child development on every sphere.”

https://soundcloud.com/benoni-city-times/joan-van-niekerk-at-home-start

The global ambassador said that parenting was a challenge faced on a global scale and was not unique to only developing countries as developed countries also faced a similar issue.

“A lack of parenting education at home results in problems in society.

“Children need to learn how to handle situations in all environments.

“A child’s relationship with the parent is the most fundamental interpersonal relationship, and what they learn in this relationship becomes a message they take everywhere.”

Van Niekerk said that while various countries were faced with parenting challenges, back in SA other factors such as socio-economic hindrances were also addressed.

“Home-Start values and programmes assist with child development in a positive way, and is particularly relevant to the South African context.”

Another element that has impacted negatively on parenting, was also explained by van Niekerk.

“The ability to play with children has been lost in many areas, and this is felt on a global scale.

“Being able to play with your child leads to many positive reinforcements such as strong nurturing skills and reduced family stress.”

Van Niekerk noted that brain development abnormalities for children could be the result for those who are exposed to domestic violence within the home.

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“It becomes a learned behaviour as with anything children may be exposed to, and impacts negatively on impulses within the brain,” she said.

According to van Niekerk, Home-Start is one of the best models when it comes to child and family care and is affordable, in line with the context of South Africa, and empowers parents.

Director of Benoni Home-Start, Erica Strydom, said they loved having van Niekerk with them on her short visit.

“Joan is a wealth of experience and knowledge,” said Strydom.

“Her insight into programmes is wonderful and we hope to see her again soon.”

Present at van Niekerk’s stop in Gauteng was the Benoni Health and Welfare forum.

According to Lauren Jee (director of Life Choices) the purpose of this forum is to create a platform for the NPOs in Benoni to get together once a month to see how they are able to help each other.

“We have found this very beneficial for the organisations that have been joining us each month,” said Jee.

Jee said the forum came into existence in November 2017.