Many children in South Africa are born into harsh conditions such as poverty, domestic violence and poor-quality schooling, leaving them with a difficult start in life. With over two million orphaned and vulnerable (OVC) children in South Africa, immediate intervention and action is needed to provide children with healthy coping mechanisms and tools to empower themselves.

Newly formed NGO WISE (Wellbeing in Schools & Education) aims to address this need by offering educators and caregivers in underprivileged schools a practical guide to understanding today’s generation of children. The wellness-based programme provides materials that teach children essential life skills (e.g. non-violent communication, forgiveness, gratitude and mindfulness) helping to nurture happy, confident and conscious children.

Mindfulness is becoming common practice in international schools with studies reporting reduced stress in children and enhanced mental performance. Over 5,000 UK teachers have been trained in teaching mindfulness, and 2017 saw the roll-out of a mindfulness curriculum across many US schools.

With the unique set of challenges that South African children are faced with at school and home, it makes sense that local SA schools can also benefit from this movement. Too often we see vulnerable children in rough circumstances turn to learnt behaviour like violence, bullying, drug or alcohol abuse and even suicide in response to their situations. “The suicide rate for South African children aged 10-14 years old has more than doubled in the past 15 years, and yet we continue to place importance on teaching Maths and English in schools, when children would surely benefit from resources that can equip them with self-esteem, self-sufficiency and self-love that can contribute to their overall well-being,” says psychologist and co-founder of WISE Carol Surya.

Surya, who has been involved in stress-management training for over 20 years is the author of two parenting books (Great Kids and Parent Magic), and has partnered with Biodanza facilitator, sculptor and entrepreneur, Carmen Clews to develop the pilot study and training programme for WISE in the Western Cape. Clews and Surya had been independently developing their own materials for children’s wellbeing (Surya’s Inner Magic Self-esteem children’s game and Clew’s The Magic Mat and Planting Seeds for Life book), when they saw the opportunity to combine their skills and materials to introduce a holistic training programme aimed at parents, teachers, social workers and caregivers.

“Unfortunately, there is a desperate shortage of professionals, resources and wellness materials to assist children (especially those who have been neglected or otherwise marginalized). Our unique tools are professionally designed to develop wholehearted children and communities,” says Surya.

Helping caregivers address their own stress levels
The WISE philosophy is based on the principal of unlocking children’s inner magic, and they believe that it’s the responsibility of adults and care givers to provide children with the best chance to reach their potential. In recognising the role adults play in teaching children how to deal with overwhelming feelings or managing challenges, Surya and Clews realised that too few adults are themselves healthy or well-adjusted.

When first visiting local schools, Clews and Surya noticed the violent way in which children were communicating and bullying each other. Furthermore, they identified the high stress levels of the teachers (who are also suffering with their own daily challenges) which in some cases resulted in teachers violently hitting the children. This is counterproductive to the positive work that should be taking place in a classroom, which should also be a safe space for children, especially for those who don’t feel safe at home. The WISE programme has been developed to specifically aid teachers and caregivers in dealing with their stress first so that they can then help students to cope with their own feelings. “Having experienced how hard it is for adults to make significant and sustainable changes in their own lives, I was careful in designing the WISE Personal Wellbeing programme to support the caregivers through a powerful process of personal change,” says Surya.

Reduced aggressive behaviour in schools and communities
The response to the pilot study has been overwhelmingly positive. After completing the Personal Wellbeing programme, which includes group discussions, relaxation exercises, visualisation activities, and the teaching of practical tools to use with the children (such as the Inner Magic self-esteem board game and the Magic Mat), educators saw a significant difference in behaviour. They reported decreased absenteeism of both learner and teacher, reduced high-risk behaviour by learners, reduced incidents of aggression in the classroom and community, and fewer incidents of domestic violence and child abuse, due to children feeling empowered to express themselves and speak out about their feelings. “The WISE programme has influenced my understanding of children, helping me to help them deal with issues they can’t deal with. I have empathy and understanding toward them,” said one of the participants.

The WISE training programme has been implemented in several schools plus NGO’s including FAMSA; Bodisa; Knysna Drug and Alcohol Centre, The Department of Health (Garden Route) and Sinemethemba Youth Centre. Depending on the funds raised, Clews and Surya aim to roll-out the programme nationally.

Find out more at www.raisingkidspositively.com/wise.