Khulisa Social Solutions 4900 views

Khulisa has adopted a systemic approach to community development. It recognises that the typical approaches of governments and NGOs compartmentalise problems and deliver programmes which tend to address single issues in a non-cooperative and unsustainable manner. In response Khulisa has developed an approach which aims to address the challenges faced by communities in a more holistic and comprehensive manner. It aims to identify the systemic challenges in the society and community, and to overcome fragmentation of policy, systems and delivery through the mobilisation of local capacity. This approach requires that Khulisa develop a thorough understanding of the policy and operational challenges in service delivery, as well as understanding the socio economic, safety and developmental challenges experienced by people living in the community. Based on this understanding, Khulisa works collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to identify key projects which would have the highest impact in the system and which would demonstrate social change.

When turning to the requirements for building safer communities, the NDP call for the development of an effective strategy that takes into account the interrelated factors contributing to lack of safety and crime. These include the underlying root causes, such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and various motivations to commit crime; lack of social cohesions, inadequate care of children and a failure to accept and internalise ‘good’ societal norms; and the need to address the factors which create a vulnerability to victimisation – such as situational crime prevention measures.

KHULISA’S STRATEGY

Khulisa’s strategy aims to enhance social services to children, youth and families, with an orientation towards crime reduction. Its objectives are:

• Strengthening of internal and external capacity · Integrated site based service delivery · Improve cohesion within families · Sustainable interventions

Khulisa aims to fulfill these objectives through the following activities: 1 National Planning Commission. (2012). National Development Commission: Vision 2030, p. 357. 2 Khulisa Social Services. (undated). Basket of Services Integrated Service Delivery, pp. 7-8. · Identifying local needs and resources · Responding speedily to the needs of individuals, families and communities · Promoting community participation and mobilisation · Coordinating action at community level · Creating awareness with regard to available services and prevention of social pathologies · Promoting grassroots participation in decision making and direct service delivery.

In addition, Khulisa has identified local areas of intervention:

• Infant/ mother – Biological and physiological · Toddler / parents – Safety · Pre-school / family – Belongingness and love · School child / school , teacher, friends, neighbourhood – Esteem · Adolescent/ peers, groups, influences – Esteem · Young adult/lovers, friends, work connections – Esteem · Mid adult/children, community – Self actualisation · Late adult/society, world, life – Self actualisation