BUILDING RESILIENT FUTURES: RISIHA PROGRAMME STRENGTHENS SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

By Nonhlakanipho Masola

• The RISIHA Programme provides a comprehensive package of services to vulnerable children through community drop-in centres aligned with the Children’s Act.
• ⁠The initiative delivers integrated services including food security, psychosocial support, education assistance, health promotion and HIV and AIDS awareness.
• Monitoring visits by the Department of Social Development help identify successes, address challenges and improve child protection services at community level.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) is currently in the Free State Province to monitor and support the implementation of the RISIHA Programme, a community-based prevention and early intervention initiative aimed at assisting vulnerable children and strengthening child protection services.

The visit forms part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to assess the implementation of the Community-Based Prevention and Early Intervention Programme while providing technical support to provinces and organisations delivering services to vulnerable children. These monitoring engagements allow the Department to evaluate progress, identify operational challenges and highlight good practices in service delivery at community level.

The word Risiha, derived from Xitsonga, means resilience. The programme is designed to help children transition from vulnerability to resilience through the delivery of a Core Package of Services (CPS) that responds to the complex challenges faced by vulnerable children, particularly those affected by poverty, inequality and social exclusion.

These services are primarily delivered through drop-in centres operating in line with the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. The centres provide safe and supportive spaces where children can access essential services, including nutritious meals, psychosocial support, educational assistance, and referrals to additional social services.

A Comprehensive Package of Support

The RISIHA Programme delivers seven interrelated service areas designed to support the holistic development and well-being of children.
Food and nutrition support ensures that children have access to regular meals and improved nutrition, particularly in households experiencing food insecurity. Growth monitoring is also conducted to identify early risks such as malnutrition or stunting.

Psychosocial support focuses on strengthening children’s emotional well-being through early identification of psychological distress, behavioural support programmes, and opportunities for recreation and social interaction.

Through educational support, the programme assists children to access and remain in school by addressing barriers such as the lack of school uniforms, transport challenges or limited parental support. Learners are also supported to improve their academic performance.

Economic strengthening interventions help families access social grants and livelihood opportunities to improve household stability and reduce economic vulnerability.

Child care and protection services work to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation while promoting safe and nurturing environments within families and communities.

Health promotion services improve children’s access to healthcare, support the early identification of disabilities and encourage good hygiene and sanitation practices.

In addition, the programme provides HIV and AIDS services that promote awareness, encourage knowledge of HIV status, support treatment adherence for children living with HIV, and address risky behaviours among adolescents.

Reaching Vulnerable Children

The programme targets children facing multiple risk factors that may affect their development and well-being. These include children living in poverty, orphaned children, children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and those living in child- or youth-headed households.
It also reaches children in under-serviced communities and informal settlements, as well as those who may have experienced abuse, neglect, violence or homelessness.

Dr Joyce Ndzuta, Social Work Manager for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) at the National Department of Social Development, explained that the purpose of the visit is to enhance programme implementation through monitoring engagements.

“We are here to support and to understand whether there are any challenges. It is not only about identifying challenges, but also about recognising successes. We return to our offices to analyse what is happening on the ground so that we know how best to support the province and the organisations delivering these services,” she said.

Strengthening Child Protection

Through programmes such as RISIHA, the Department of Social Development continues to strengthen community-based child protection and learner support systems.

By working closely with families, community organisations and service professionals, the programme helps ensure that vulnerable children receive the care, protection and opportunities they need to develop resilience and grow into empowered members of society.