Obtaining a matric certificate increases the chance of securing employment by 18% and opens the door to further education, which increases employment chances by between 49% and 155% (Branson et al., 2019).
Our Youth Engagement Programme uses a targeted approach to address school dropout by providing tailored support to at-risk learners through life skills, counselling, home visits, caregiver support and community mobilisation.
THE CHALLANGE
LIMITED CAREGIVER INVOLVEMENT
Lack of parental support and involvement in a child’s education can negatively impact their motivation, academic performance, and overall school engagement.
Substance Abuse
Communities grappling with high rates of substance abuse often witness increased dropout rates, as addiction can lead to irregular attendance, poor concentration, and a general lack of focus on academic pursuits.
POVERTY
Families living in poverty often struggle to meet basic needs, making it difficult for them to afford school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and other educational expenses.
High Crime rates
Living in an environment plagued by crime and violence can create a sense of insecurity, leading to increased absenteeism and dropout rates as students prioritise personal safety over education.
OUR APPROACH
A CARING ADULT
A loving and caring parent or other adult can help a child succeed despite poverty and adversity. An essential factor in providing a stable foundation from which a child can flourish is the presence of a responsive relationship with caring adults.
Our social and community workers assist caregivers in supporting their children and in developing strong, loving relationships with them.
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
Psychosocial support is critical to many successful interventions aimed at at-risk youth. Children provided with psychosocial support show increased resilience and self-confidence and can make healthy life choices. Their interactions with those around them, including parents, teachers and peers, improve substantially.
EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS
Just Grace uses its data management system and meticulously tracks risk factors and participation in interventions to prevent and respond to drop-out. Timely, accurate and complete data is critical to preventing school drop-out and assisting at-risk learners. Just Grace works closely with parents, teachers, NGOs and community members to identify and act on learner risk factors.
