The main purpose of the Hluma Programme is to equip young people to overcome the everyday issues faced by those growing up in impoverished communities. We do this by:

1. establishing in them a sense of hope and purpose
2. cultivating their self-confidence and
3. nurturing their resilience in a safe and fun setting.

The programme gets children off the streets in the gap between the end of school and their parents’ return from work, which is when young people are most vulnerable to the high levels of gang violence, rape and other physical attacks in the area. We also stay open over the school holidays.

HIuma school children learn:

1. life skills
2. health education
3. receive 1-2-1 tutoring in reading, comprehension and maths and
4. support with their schoolwork.

As well as learning opportunities, Hluma provides:

1. nutritious meals (as many of the children are malnourished). We have found that eating together plays a key role in fostering positive relationships in the group.
2. a reading room where children have a wide choice of books to sharpen their reading skills and develop their imaginations for fun and
3. self-esteem building.

We now have over 60 children and teenagers each week, ranging from 9-15 years. Demand is high, so we plan to extend the programme to reach many more children soon.