01/10/2026
🌟 RI SIHA HOLIDAY PROGRAMME: CREATING SAFE SPACES, BUILDING RESILIENCE, AND EMPOWERING OUR CHILDREN 🌟
This week, our Risiha Programme teams in Hopetown and Colesberg are hard at work delivering an engaging and meaningful holiday programme for the children and families we serve. Through a variety of fun, educational, recreational, and developmental activities, our Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) are creating opportunities for children to learn, connect, express themselves, and grow in a safe and supportive environment.
The activities showcased in this video are more than just moments of fun and laughter. They represent our ongoing commitment to child protection, psychosocial support, personal development, and the holistic well-being of every child participating in our programme.
🌱 WHY IS THE HOLIDAY PROGRAMME SO IMPORTANT?
School holidays are a time when children have more free time and, for some, fewer structured activities, less supervision, and limited access to the support systems they receive during the school term. For children living in vulnerable circumstances, this period can present additional risks and challenges.
Our holiday programme plays a vital role in addressing these challenges by providing:
1. A SAFE AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT
The programme offers children a safe, supervised, and welcoming space where they can spend their holidays meaningfully. By providing positive and structured activities, we help reduce exposure to potentially harmful situations while ensuring that children remain engaged, supported, and protected.
2. PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Children experience different emotional, social, and family-related challenges. Through group activities, interaction, and guided engagement, our CYCWs create opportunities for children to express their feelings, build trust, develop healthy relationships, and strengthen their emotional resilience.
These interactions also allow our teams to identify children who may need additional support and ensure that appropriate interventions are considered.
3. SOCIAL SKILLS AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Group activities encourage teamwork, communication, cooperation, respect, and empathy. Children learn how to work together, appreciate one another's differences, resolve conflicts constructively, and develop meaningful friendships.
These are essential life skills that contribute to their development both within and beyond the programme.
4. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING
Every activity provides an opportunity for children to discover their strengths, develop new skills, and build self-confidence. Whether participating in games, creative exercises, educational activities, or team challenges, children are encouraged to believe in themselves and recognise their own potential.
We understand that empowering children begins with creating environments where they feel valued, capable, and heard.
5. PREVENTION AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF RISKS
The holiday programme also forms an important part of our preventative approach to child protection. By maintaining consistent contact with children and strengthening relationships with them, our CYCWs are better positioned to recognise potential risks, identify emerging concerns, and provide timely support or referrals where necessary.
Prevention is always more effective when we create strong support systems around children before challenges escalate.
6. CONTINUITY OF CARE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Our responsibility towards children does not end when schools close for the holidays. The Risiha Programme remains committed to providing consistent care, guidance, and support throughout the year.
Through our work in Hopetown and Colesberg, we continue to strengthen the relationship between children, families, caregivers, and the broader community, recognising that protecting and nurturing children is a shared responsibility.
❤️ MORE THAN JUST A HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
At the heart of everything we do is one simple belief: Every child deserves to feel safe, loved, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
The smiles, laughter, teamwork, and enthusiasm captured in this video remind us why community-based programmes such as Risiha are so important. Behind every activity is a dedicated team of CYCWs who continue to invest their time, energy, and compassion in shaping a brighter future for our children.
We extend our appreciation to our dedicated teams in Hopetown and Colesberg for their commitment and hard work in making this week's programme a success. Your contribution goes beyond facilitating activities; you are helping to build resilience, restore hope, nurture potential, and create lasting positive experiences in the lives of the children we serve.
Together, we are not just keeping children occupied during the holidays. We are investing in their development, protecting their childhood, and laying the foundation for stronger, healthier communities.
🌍 Risiha Programme – Empowering Children. Strengthening Families. Building Resilient Communities.
