Athwood Primary in Hanover Park launched its wellness hub on Thursday March 20. Helping to cut the ribbon of the premises, are, from left, Western Cape Education Department director, Brenda Robertson, Western Cape Health Department's head of department, Dr Keith Cloete, Athwood Primary School principal, Evan Petersen, and Enver Hassen, head of Learner Support in the WCED's MCED.
Image: Hazel Allies-Husselman
Athwood Primary School in Hanover Park was the first of 17 schools in the province to launch its wellness hub for pupils and parents in areas plagued by gangsterism, drug abuse and other social ills.
An initiative of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), a wellness hub is a safe space for pupils and parents where they can access counselling, mental health resources, and stress-relieve activities, to help them manage psychosocial and emotional challenges.
The launch of Athwood Primary’s wellness hub was held on Thursday March 20.
Apart from the WCED, the Western Cape Department of Health, Western Cape Department of Social Development, various non-government organisations and the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement, will all work together on this initiative.
During her presentation at the launch, the WCED’s Metro Central Education District (MCED) Social Work Supervisor, Sarah Hendricks, said the wellness hub is where pupils and parents can get individual and group grief counselling, where children can be part of after-school and holiday programmes, where substance abuse prevention and truancy intervention programmes will be held, where teachers can attend workshops, and where school safety officers will be accessible.
She said it is not so uncommon for some children to walk past dead bodies in their communities, and that the wellness hubs aim to help them deal with that kind of trauma, among others.
Athwood Primary principal, Evan Petersen, said he had the same vision for a wellness hub for his school, as they received a donation of a container structure, which he thought was suitable for an initiative such as this.
“This is a special day for us. We had an idea and collaborated with the WCED and it took us beyond our imagination. I would like to acknowledge the staff of Athwood for all the hard work they put in. I am proud of what we have achieved. For many of our learners, there are up to 15 family members sharing a small home, and this wellness hub is a safe space where they can de-stress and we can work with them optimally,” Mr Petersen said.
He added that the wellness hub will make services more accessible to pupils in need and improve their academic performance.
The WCED hopes the wellness hubs will also help to decrease the number of school drop-outs.
A WCED statement reads: “These schools are located in areas facing daily challenges of gang violence, substance abuse, poverty, child abuse and unemployment impacting on the psychosocial wellbeing of learners resulting in poor academic performance leading to school drop-outs. By addressing mental health needs early, the wellness hubs aim to improve overall well-being, strengthen community support, and foster a positive, inclusive environment for learners and their families. The establishment of the wellness hubs in schools will help create this vital resource, benefiting the school community for years to come and ultimately improve learning outcomes.”
Brenda Robertson, the WCED’s MCED director, said the wellness hubs will also add a sense of belonging.
“No child should be left behind, as every child deserves the support and resources needed to help them succeed academically,” she said.