Pillars Behind The Process
We dedicate our resources to find the core social and economic implications that hampers the quality of life in our communities. Because such implications lead to many social problems such as drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and the eruption of criminal activities.
TWe then partner with our stakeholders (Donors, Partners and Sponsors) in pulling together resources that will best execute the programs.
We then design interventional life skill programs that are unique, comprehensive and seeks to alleviate such existing social hindrance. Our programs are solely focused on making impact and archiving desired goals.
Pull all available and necessary resources to make intended impact
Programmes and Services
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AWARENESS
Ke-moja drug prevention and awareness campaign is a programme whereby the organisation goes around schools creating awareness to scholars about the dangers of drugs, substance abuse and its prevention. Awareness is created by means of awareness campaigns and dialogues where topics that tackle the dangers and effects of substance abuse are dealt with. The community is educated and given relevant information by means of pamphlets and brochures. Laapeng also market the organization in the schools and the community to help leaners who are already using substances to come and get help in the organisation. This service is also rendered to the community at large in public spaces like taxi ranks, complexes, farms and sometimes the community halls in the form of events that are in line with the Health Calendar. We also identify children who are vulnerable to come for counselling from the social worker. The social worker assigned for this programme intakes clients who have substance dependency problems. The clients may be coming voluntarily as walk-in clients or may have been referred to the organization by stakeholders/ families (but still have to be self-willing) where they receive one-on-one counselling, joint counselling with family members e.g. parents as well as group sessions with other clients with similar problems for support. Counselling sessions continue until clients are ready for rehabilitation, where they are referred to Themba Hospital for detoxification then to Swartfontein Rehabilitation Centre for rehabilitation.
AFTER CARE SERVICES
Upon returning from rehabilitation, clients are introduced to the organization’s After Care Services where they are kept busy in skills programmes and are assisted with reintegration to the community and their families. As in the Substance Abuse programme, the clients receive one-on-one counselling, joint counselling with family members e.g. parents as well as group sessions with other clients who have completed the course of treatment for support. Counselling sessions continue until clients are ready to stand on their own where they are then absorbed by the organization into one of the existing skills developments programmes of their own choice. Clients may choose to remain in counselling for as long as they wish and for whatever support they need even outside of their initial intake into the programme for stability.
HIV/AIDS AWARENESS
This programme is very similar with the substance abuse programme whereby the organisation goes around schools creating awareness to scholars about HIV/AIDS and its prevention. Awareness is created by means of awareness campaigns and dialogues where topics that tackle the dangers and effects of HIV/AIDS, Health Talks, Adherence, Stigma and Discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS are dealt with. The community is educated and given relevant information by means of pamphlets and brochures. The organisation also goes around the community distributing condoms at places like the farms, salons, bars, churches, community halls and playgrounds/parks.
TB/STI SCREENING
This programme is carried out alongside the awareness campaigns, where willing beneficiaries are screened for TB/STI using screening tools in the form of questionnaires. Before screening is carried out, a brief educational dialogue is conducted to teach beneficiaries about TB and STIs. They are also educated about the signs and symptoms of these health hazards and how their treatment processes are given in health facilities. After screening, beneficiaries who are found to be at high risk are referred for further investigation and treatment to relevant stakeholders.
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
This programme allows the organization to empower both victims and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence to take control of their lives and actions. It also educates and empowers members of the community to recognize and take responsibility for Gender Based Violence. Moreover, this programme aims to challenge and redefine the cultural, social, political and economic factors underlying violence against women. Counselling services are awarded to individuals and group support is available to both survivors and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence.
Victim Empowerment Programme
The Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) is a multi-faceted and inter-sectoral programme that seeks to ensure that the criminal justice system is responsive to the diverse needs of victims of violent crimes (especially Violence against Women and Children). The aim of the programme is to provide a holistic and effective person centred support service for victims of violence and crime. Interventions of both preventative and curative nature are implied. The organization provides care and support services to victims of crime and violence. Laapeng Foundation informs beneficiaries on availability of an access to resources, provides information on referral procedures, identifies early warning signs, and develops programmes that will protect young people, families and other community members from becoming potential victims or perpetrators. Counselling services are awarded to beneficiaries in need of them.
ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN (AGYW) PROGRAMME
The organization also runs an Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in-school programme which is a national campaign that seeks to enable these young women between the ages 15-24 years to reach their potential and maximize their contribution to South Africa. The main aim of the campaign is to decrease new HIV infections, decrease Gender-Based Violence and increase the retentions of adolescent girls and young women in schools. The programme is conducted in ten (10) schools within the Mbombela Sub District where Peer Group Trainers enrol beneficiaries into the programme. During the enrolment process, peer group trainers screen beneficiaries for TB and STI and refer those found to be at high risk to the relevant stakeholders. The enrolment forms are submitted to the Social Workers who assess them and give counselling sessions as well as home visits where necessary. When the beneficiaries require further assistance, the social workers refer them to either the biomedical team (HTS and Family Planning) or relevant stakeholders depending on their needs.
"SHE SHINES POWER" CAMPAIGN
The organization initiated a girls’ campaign “Power to She” Girls’ Campaign; where it assist in keeping the girl child in school and curb intergenerational sex by restoring the dignity of the young girls. The organization hosts dialogues where the girls speak openly and freely about the challenges they face as young girls. Motivational speakers are invited to dialogues and give the young women mentoring and coaching in becoming responsible females with vision. The campaign entails distributing sanitary towels on a monthly basis to the girls in different schools within the community. However, the need proved to be greater than just sanitary towels and hygiene came to the attention of the organization hence leading to a need to distribute dignity packs to assist in boosting the confidence of the young girls. Dignity packs are only distributed on the availability of funds or donations.
WATER & SANITATION INITIATIVE
We conducted research in Phiring, Limpopo and surrounding villages focusing on water and sanitation issues. Our findings revealed that existing infrastructure was barely functional, leaving communities without reliable access to clean water and proper sanitation.
We are actively seeking collaboration with water and sanitation partners to help establish new systems, including the use of solar-powered water borehole pumps. Additionally, we aim to run water and sanitation awareness campaigns to educate and empower these communities for a healthier future.
