Newsletter September 2019

Hi All,

We have had a very hectic couple of weeks assisting Marysia Nash and Gemma McDonald who arrived from Scotland loaded up with 3 suitcases full of toys and books (70.3Kg) for our BabyBoost programme.

Knowing the importance of the first 1000 days in a child’s development is critical. The purpose of BabyBoost is to enlighten the parents/carers of this, and to help them learn how to interact with their babies in the most positive way.

The purpose of this visit was not only to start a new session of BabyBoost, but to evaluate the progress and results of the previous BabyBoost sessions.

We were very excited to read the carers comments and the results of the evaluations some of which we share with you below.

Carers felt they learned a lot from the programme about play, looking at books, singing, loving and talking to a baby. In some, there seemed to be a big shift in knowledge.

Comments included,

• “I have changed my mind set altogether. For the first time since my baby was born I think differently about everything now”.
• “I was taught a lot about babies e.g. you talk to your baby whilst feeding them.”
• “It’s important to play with the child, it might help them to develop language”.
• “(it) taught me how to play and talk with my baby.”
• “You learn how to play with the new toys at the playgroups.”
• “The team taught me how to talk to my child when bathing feeding or changing “
• “(there were) so many things I didn’t know as a parent like singing… I didn’t see the importance.”

We can surmise that as a result of increased knowledge there were changes in carer behaviour towards providing more learning opportunities for their children. Comments suggested that was the case.
For example,

• “I am now able to play with my child and not just put my baby behind my back.”
• “I didn’t have any interest in playing with the baby but now know it is important.”
• “I liked that they (BB team) motivated me to interact more with my child.”
• “I am now able to talk with my baby even though I can’t understand him.”

The results prove that the BabyBoost programme is enlightening the parents/carers in the rural community of Amazizi. They are now aware of the importance of the first 1000 days and are interacting with their babies by talking, playing, reading, singing, cuddling and responding to them.

For our UK followers you can help raise funding for BabyBoost by signing up to Easyfundraising and by shopping online.

A small percentage of your online shopping at M&S, John Lewis, ebay, Booking.com, Amazon and many more, will go directly to BabyBoost.

We also accept Credit Card donations:

Click Here to donate to Khanyisela projects

A SA tax certificate is available on request.

We look forward to Marysia’s next visit in March next year.