NPOS EMPOWERED AND CAPACITATED TO DEAL WITH FAMILY UNITS’ SOCIAL ILLS

By Sello Tang

• The Department of Social Development and its partners are reviewing the Family’s Matters Programme (FMP) to adapt it to current social challenges, such as digital media influences and harmful traditional practices.
• The FMP, an evidence-based intervention, aims to strengthen family dynamics and improve parent-child communication on sexual health and risk reduction, addressing issues like HIV, gender-based violence, and child abuse.
• Stakeholders at the seminar emphasised the need for updated approaches, including non-violent discipline and building stronger parent-child relationships, to mitigate social ills within communities.

The seminar on the review of the Family’s Matters Programme (FMP) continued yesterday at the Garden Court Marine Parade in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The facilitators from the implementing non-profit organisations (NPOs) were equipped with practical strategies to enhance their facilitation sessions with parents and caregivers on sexual education.

Discussions at the seminar highlighted a distinct shift from the time when the FMP was officially launched by the Department of Social Development in 2015 to the present. The rapid growth of digital media has been identified as a necessary but challenging phenomenon that prompted the review of the programme’s rollout in communities. The proliferation of digital platforms, often easily accessible to children as young as five, has raised serious concerns. Moreover, traditional practices like Ukuthwala, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, were flagged as significant contributors to the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.

The FMP was described as an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention designed for parents, guardians, and other primary caregivers. The programme aims to enhance protective parenting practices that promote risk avoidance and reduction among youth, and to foster open parent-child communication about sex and sexual risk reduction.

“The programme also seeks to strengthen and support families to raise healthy children and help them reach their life goals without the setbacks of social ills. More effective parental communication and positive parenting practices, such as monitoring and supervision, can delay children’s sexual behaviour and increase protective behaviours,” said Ms Nelisiwe Mzizi, KZN Provincial Director for HIV and AIDS.

Ms Mzizi further explained that encouraging general parenting practices, such as relationship-building with children, monitoring, positive reinforcement, and effective communication, significantly reduces the likelihood of children engaging in risky sexual behaviours.

Agreeing with Ms Mzizi, Mr Sbonelo Mthethwa from Matubeyane NPO noted that the review of the programme would also guide parents in disciplining children without resorting to abusive punishment, instead focusing on building strong relationships to keep children safe. Established in 2020, Matubeyane NPO is one of the seven government-funded NPOs in KZN, covering five local municipalities in the Zululand District.

“We believe that the review will also address negative examples of parent-child interaction in audio materials that depict emotional violence and threats of physical violence,” Mthethwa added.

The FMP raises awareness about the sexual risks faced by many adolescents, including the risks of child sexual abuse and gender-based violence. It also aims to demystify stigma and address challenges related to disclosure and adherence to ART among youth.

“We are currently implementing six programmes under the Compendium of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), with more expected to be introduced,” said Mthethwa. The SBC programmes include the Family Matters Programme, Chommy, YOLO, Men Championing Change, Boys Championing Change, the Rock Traditional Programme, and Community Capacity Enhancement.

These programmes involve six facilitation sessions with parents, caregivers, and children, held once a week. “From our sessions in communities, we have noticed that one of the major issues, especially in Pongola, is the high rate of HIV and AIDS, primarily caused by Ukuthwala practices,” Mthethwa explained. He said their intervention through the FMP has helped reduce cases of Ukuthwala, with more people now opposing the practice due to its role in increasing HIV rates, gender-based violence, and child marriages. He also highlighted the prevalence of alcohol abuse among older people in the area, which often leads to incidents of rape and inappropriate sexual behaviour in front of children.

“After drinking alcohol, smoking weed, and using other drugs, they return home and engage in sexual activities in front of the children,” he said.

Mr Mooketsi Komane, Managing Director of Inguqu Communications, expressed optimism that the review of the programme would positively impact addressing social issues within family units. Inguqu Communications has been entrusted by the Department of Social Development to conduct the programme review processes.

“The programme was originally adapted from the USA and implemented in Kenya before coming to South Africa. After assessing its implementation, the department recognised the need to tailor it to the specific challenges faced by South African families, such as bullying, social media influence, and gender-based violence,” said Mr Komane.

“Our goal is to ensure that the programme is customised to address these issues effectively and is easy for facilitators and master trainers to implement on a national scale. Our work ensures alignment with the National Strategic Plan and the National Development Plan,” he concluded.

The seminar’s discussion sessions will conclude today.