LEFIKA - creating safe spaces during the World Cup.

The World Cup is a time of excitement and celebration, for many children in our country this will not be the case! With schools closed for almost 5 weeks, many children will be without adult supervision or food increasing their vulnerability to child traffickers, prostitution, neglect and sexual abuse during this time.

According to statistics released by the Safety and Security Ministry more than 40 children are raped in South Africa everyday. These figures only include cases that are reported to the police. Analysts believe that the majority of child rapes are never registered. In addition to this, ‘it is well-known that South Africa is a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in children for sexual exploitation and forced labour’. (Global Monitoring, Report on the status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children, South Africa, ECPAT, 2007)

Lefika La Phodiso (The Art Therapy Centre), a South African NGO, is asking for your help to provide ‘Safe Spaces’, therapeutic care and nutritious meals to children in Soweto, Katlehong, Thembisa, Sebokeng and Inner-city.

Our Aim is:

To provide ‘Safe Spaces’ and therapeutic care for vulnerable children during the 2010 Soccer World Cup

What will this look like?

Lefika La Phodiso already provides a School Holiday programme for the children that we work with throughout the year from partner NGO’s including Childline, Teddy Bear Clinic and Khanya Family Centre.

Due to the increased risk to children during the World Cup we are asking for your help to expand this programme to include additional ‘Safe Spaces’ for a larger number of vulnerable children.

The children we work with range in ages from 5 – 17 years and have experienced trauma through lack of a family; sometimes due to loss through HIV and/or AIDS; have been removed from family situations due to sexual and physical abuse and/or neglect; or are themselves young sexual offenders.

Lefika’s World Cup ‘Safe Spaces’ programme will provide safety and continuous care within a ‘therapeutic’ framework. It’s aim is to truly make a difference to these children’s lives by integrating Art Therapy tools into the programme and targeting those children who are most in need. This blended model provides:

·         a safe space for disadvantaged and vulnerable children to have fun and play in a supportive, relaxed and caring environment where they can feel free to express their emotions and learn valuable coping skills

·         a safe space to talk about their experiences at home, in society and in general and receive emotional support and tools that provide self-confidence and increased problem-solving skills

·         healthy and nutritious meals to all participants within the programme to further support their immediate health and well-being by ensuring that this basic need is being met. Children are better equipped to focus and actively participate in workshop activities if they are feeling satisfied and well nourished. Sharing a meal together also provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen bonds in a warm and comforting environment.

In addition to these immediate benefits and outcomes, Lefika’s unique Counselling approach, using Art Therapy, helps to achieve a positive improvement in the behaviour and outlook of the children.

Our World Cup ‘Safe Spaces’ programme will be led by our Community Art Counsellors, many of whom are also Educators, together with volunteers from the local and international community including artists, psychology students, counsellors and art counselling trainees.

Up to 40 children can be accommodated in each site for 4 days per week throughout the World Cup period providing safety and care for an additional 160 vulnerable children. The theme of the programme will be ‘Me & My World” and will be supported by a range of activities that support our objectives of:

1. Understanding ‘Who I am?’ and the ‘World around me’ with the view to empowering them to make safe choices, express themselves in a safe space, and reflect on what it means to ‘be safe’ individually and as a group
2. Celebrating the World Cup and being South African

Therapeutic activities that will be included to achieve these objectives will include creative art making, music and dance movement all within an art counselling context.

What is needed to make this a reality?

Venues have already been sourced in conjunction with our partners in Soweto, Katlehong, Thembisa, Sebokeng and Drill Hall (Inner-city). We also have Community Art Counsellors and Volunteers ready to commence in each site as soon as funding becomes available.

The Peermont Childrens Trust, who provides social, educational and emotional upliftment to children in disadvantaged areas of Ekurhuleni Metro Council, primarily through financial support for their education and holistic growth and development, has generously provided funding for two sites: Thembisa and Katlehong.

However, funding is still needed for Soweto, Sebokeng and Inner-city for:

• Supporting our Community Art Counsellors
• Art materials
• Healthy breakfasts and lunches for the children
• Transport costs both for the children, Community Art Counsellors and Volunteers

How you can make a difference?

A donation of R100 would fund one child for one day, to be provided with a safe environment, to grow and develop creatively with the therapeutic support of a Community Art Counsellor, access to art materials, to have access to nutritional food and feel part of a healthy community.

Any financial contribution you can make to the Lefika World Cup ‘Safe Spaces’ project will be greatly appreciated. Lefika La Phodiso is a registered Section 21 Company 2004/006249/08.

Donations can be made to:

Name:                   Lefika/Art Therapy Centre

Bank:                    Standard

Branch:                 Jan Smuts

Branch Code:        004205

Current Account:   001 91 3468

Reference:            SafeSpaces

If you prefer to donate practical items, the following art materials are required and can be dropped off at 5FM, SABCRadio Park – 8 ^th floor, Henley Road, Auckland Park, JHB:

 Journals /notebooks

Paper A4, A3, A2 and A1- or any rolls of cartridge paper (white or coloured)

Tissue paper

Koki’s

Oil Pastels

Watercolours or acrylic or gouche paints

Masking Tape

Charcoal

Craft activity sets

Coloured Pencils

Art Paint Brushes

Wood glue

Our Lefika team and volunteers, both local and international, are all poised to make a difference and we can- with your generosity and support!

Who is Lefika?

Lefika La Phodiso, The Art Therapy Centre, is a registered South African NGO based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg with a long and established history and reputation for working with disadvantaged and vulnerable children since 1994. Lefika has developed a strong focus on empowering individuals and communities in order to reduce dependence, violence, poverty, abuse and premature death, through the application and use of art therapy programmes which enables children to better deal with the often-time incredibly challenging environments in which they live.

To find out more about Lefika La Phodiso and the work that we are doing visit our website - www.arttherapycentre.co.za.