Latest news with #iCare
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
How family breakdowns and poverty fuel homelessness
South Africa's growing homeless crisis includes thousands of vulnerable children. Many flee broken homes, only to find hunger, abuse, and fear on the streets instead. In South Africa's city centres, including Durban, a growing crisis sees children living on the streets due to family breakdown, abuse, poverty, and systemic failures. Many flee unsafe homes and find little support from under-resourced schools and overwhelmed government systems. Once on the streets, they face hunger, violence, and exploitation. According to Statistics South Africa, the number of homeless people in the country more than quadrupled between 1996 and 2022,from 13,135 to 55,719. Among them, children under 18 account for about 7%, highlighting the growing vulnerability of minors in this crisis. While smaller in proportion, homeless children face significantly higher risks due to their age, dependency, and lack of protection. The 2022 census revealed that 45.7% of homeless children under 15 were living in shelters, while 26.9% were found in abandoned buildings or vehicles, reflecting unsafe and unstable conditions. 'From our experience at iCare, the most common reasons include family breakdown, domestic violence, neglect, poverty, and substance abuse within the home,' said Anne Slatter, director at the Durban-based shelter iCare. 'Many children flee toxic or unsafe environments, while others are orphaned or abandoned.' Clinical and sports psychologist Dr Keitumetse 'Tumi' Mashego added, 'When there is a lot of trauma, dysfunction, toxicity, abuse or even perceived unfairness in the family, children can be negatively impacted and sadly some run away from home due to the inability to cope with the family dynamic.' Once on the streets, survival becomes a daily struggle. 'They enter survival mode,' Mashego explained. 'There are issues of safety, hunger, keeping alive, and they could be targeted or bullied by other homeless people ,it becomes a 'survival of the fittest' game.' The school system, ideally a safety net, often fails these children. 'School disengagement is both a cause and a consequence of life on the streets,' said Slatter. 'Once children drop out, they lose routine, structure, and hope for the future.' Mashego highlighted the lack of psychosocial support in schools: 'Ideally there should be social workers available to schools to screen, identify and intervene as early as possible. But unfortunately, it's not happening in the schooling systems for varying reasons, often failing the vulnerable.'
Al Etihad
15-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
ECAE launches iCare initiative to encourage parental engagement in classroom learning
15 May 2025 16:05 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) announced on Thursday the launch of iCare, a new initiative designed to strengthen parental involvement in children's education across UAE schools. Aligned with the aspirations of the UAE's Year of Community, iCare promotes stronger social connections by encouraging active collaboration between parents and schools, emphasising the essential role families play in student success and holistic development.A series of interactive workshops, structured activities, and accessible resources, iCare equips parents with the knowledge and tools needed to support their children's learning at home. By bridging the gap between families and schools, the initiative creates a supportive and stimulating environment that enhances academic achievement, promotes emotional well-being, and encourages lifelong learning. With a comprehensive approach to engagement, iCare empowers parents to play a proactive role in their children's learning journey, reinforcing the vital connection between home and May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, said: 'Education is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the classroom, shaping the foundation of a strong and connected society." She added, "iCare embodies the spirit of the UAE's Year of Community by empowering parents to take an active role in their children's education, strengthening social bonds, and fostering a culture of collaboration and collective growth. By equipping parents with essential skills, strategies, and resources, the initiative ensures an inclusive learning environment that not only supports academic success but also addresses students' psychological and emotional well-being, providing them with the right guidance at the right time.'The initiative includes workshops and training sessions focused on positive parenting, academic support, and stress management. Parents will gain insights into motivation, discipline, communication strategies, and practical techniques to reinforce learning at addition to training, iCare offers community-based programmes that make learning an interactive and engaging experience. Family Science and Math Nights provide hands-on STEM activities to spark curiosity and engagement, while the Reading Together initiative encourages parents and children to explore books together, encouraging literacy and critical storytelling and cultural exchange events create a platform for families to share diverse traditions, enhancing multicultural understanding. The Community Learning Hub, an online resource centre, further extends support by providing parents with educational materials, guidance, and best practices to help their children encouraging active parental participation, iCare aims to boost student motivation, improve academic performance, and strengthen community ties. It serves as a sustainable model for long-term parental engagement, ensuring that families remain key partners in their children's education. The ECAE's launch of iCare reaffirms its commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive educational environment where students receive the support, encouragement, and resources needed to excel. Through this initiative, the college continues to champion the role of families in shaping a strong, knowledge-driven future for the UAE. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Zawya
15-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Emirates College for Advanced Education launches iCare initiative
Abu Dhabi: The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) has announced the launch of iCare, a new initiative designed to strengthen parental involvement in children's education across UAE schools. Aligned with the aspirations of the UAE's Year of Community, iCare promotes stronger social connections by encouraging active collaboration between parents and schools, emphasising the essential role families play in student success and holistic development. Through a series of interactive workshops, structured activities, and accessible resources, iCare equips parents with the knowledge and tools needed to actively support their children's learning at home. By bridging the gap between families and schools, the initiative creates a supportive and stimulating environment that enhances academic achievement, promotes emotional well-being, and encourages lifelong learning. With a comprehensive approach to engagement, iCare empowers parents to play a proactive role in their children's learning journey, reinforcing the vital connection between home and school. Dr May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, said: 'Education is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the classroom, shaping the foundation of a strong and connected society. iCare embodies the spirit of the UAE's Year of Community by empowering parents to take an active role in their children's education, strengthening social bonds, and fostering a culture of collaboration and collective growth. By equipping parents with essential skills, strategies, and resources, the initiative ensures an inclusive learning environment that not only supports academic success but also addresses students' psychological and emotional well-being, providing them with the right guidance at the right time.' The initiative includes workshops and training sessions focused on positive parenting, academic support, and stress management. Parents will gain insights into motivation, discipline, and communication strategies, as well as practical techniques to reinforce learning at home. In addition to training, iCare offers community-based programs that make learning an interactive and engaging experience. Family Science and Math Nights provide hands-on STEM activities to spark curiosity and engagement, while the Reading Together initiative encourages parents and children to explore books together, encouraging literacy and critical thinking. Storytelling and cultural exchange events create a platform for families to share diverse traditions, enhancing multicultural understanding. The Community Learning Hub, an online resource center, further extends support by providing parents with educational materials, guidance, and best practices to help their children thrive. By encouraging active parental participation, iCare aims to boost student motivation, improve academic performance, and strengthen community ties. It serves as a sustainable model for long-term parental engagement, ensuring that families remain key partners in their children's education. ECAE's launch of iCare reaffirms its commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive educational environment where students receive the support, encouragement, and resources needed to excel. Through this initiative, the college continues to champion the role of families in shaping a strong, knowledge-driven future for the UAE.
