COMMUNITY-BASED CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

By Morapedi Sibeko.

• A team from the Department of Social Development is in Japan to learn more about how that country implements and runs community-based care models.
• The visit is part of a growing partnership between the department and the Japan International Cooperation Agency aimed at strengthening the department’s ability to deliver quality, community-based respite care services.
• The visit aims to equip South African officials and caregivers with practical tools and insights that support the rollout of sustainable respite care services back home.

“Leave no one behind” is not only a central belief of South Africa’s Department of Social Development but also one shared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, whose collaboration with the department is helping build a more inclusive future for children with disabilities.

As part of this growing partnership, a Department of Social Development delegation is currently in Japan on an educational tour to deepen its understanding of how community-based care models are being implemented successfully in Japan.

The visit is aimed at equipping South African officials and caregivers with practical tools and insights that support the rollout of sustainable respite care services back home.

The tour forms part of a broader capacity-building effort to strengthen the department’s ability to deliver quality, community-based respite care services.

These services offer temporary relief to families and caregivers of children with disabilities, giving them space to rest, recharge, or attend to other responsibilities while ensuring their children continue to receive the care and stimulation they need in safe, supportive environments.

Community-based care is more than a service delivery model, it is a commitment to inclusion, dignity, and local empowerment.

When care services are delivered within communities, children with disabilities remain integrated into their familiar surroundings, which improves their emotional and social development.

It also reduces isolation, helps families feel supported, and enables caregivers to take on other responsibilities, knowing their children are cared for.

The collaboration between the Department of Social Development and the Japan International Cooperation Agency is part of a technical cooperation initiative known as the Project for the Expansion of Respite Care Services for Families of Children with Disabilities, currently being implemented in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

This project is helping to build a sustainable, community-based, and driven model that can be adapted and scaled across provinces.

It includes the collection of reliable data to inform services, mapping of existing resources, and the empowerment of caregivers, parents, and social service professionals.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Fujii Natsuko underlined the spirit behind the partnership, stating: “Building people-to-people relationships is the foundation of trust. JICA values mutual trust with developing countries and is working with them to rise to the challenges.”

This reflects a deep recognition that meaningful, lasting change comes from collaborative efforts rooted in shared values and mutual learning.

Priscilla Hlophe, a supervisor for respite caregivers from Mpumalanga who is part of the training delegation in Japan, said one of the most important lessons she has learned is the power of strong collaboration between different sectors.

“What stood out for me is the good working relationship between government, caregivers, and civil society in Japan. If South Africa can strengthen the collaboration between all these arms, it means all the people involved in caring for children with disabilities would partake in respite care,” she said.

She emphasised that for respite care to work effectively, it needs to be well-known and embraced by the broader community.

“It is important for community members to know about respite care, not just social workers. If we all understand it and support it, we can relieve the burden on caregivers and make sure that children are not excluded or overlooked.”

Her insights echo the growing consensus that inclusive care cannot exist in silos; it is a shared social responsibility.

South Africa is taking significant steps to guarantee that children with disabilities and their families are not left behind by establishing locally anchored care systems and enhancing capacity locally.

Through this work, the Department of Social Development continues to reaffirm its commitment to an inclusive society, one where care is not only available but also accessible, dignified, and community-owned.