While discussions about mental health have become increasingly common around the world and on social media in recent years, many in South Africa’s most vulnerable communities have been left out due to a lack of access and awareness. Little Lions Coaching, a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, is working to change that.
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A large number of children in South Africa’s townships suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues but cannot afford treatment or transportation to free mental health resources. These difficulties are exacerbated by the stigma associated with mental health in these communities.
According to UNICEF South Africa, 18% of young people did not seek treatment for their problems due to concerns about what others would think of them.
Little Lions Coaching, a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, hopes to change that.
‘Many children living in Cape Town’s townships don’t know how to vocalise their feelings—there isn’t even a direct translation for the word depression in isiXhosa. But just because there isn’t a word for it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,’ says Nomfundo Ncuphuka, Little Lions Relationship Manager.
Stijn de Leeuw, the programme’s founding director, moved to Cape Town in 2019 to pursue his PhD in child psychology at the University of Cape Town. Stijn’s research focused on a sample group of mothers in townships surrounding Paarl, and he realised there was a huge need for mental health resources that were accessible within the communities.
Little Lions began as a mobile clinic in a converted van, focusing on preventative and positive child psychology through regular resilience workshops.
When COVID-19 struck and the devastating impact of the pandemic on mental health became clear, Stijn decided to expand by collaborating with Langa community leaders who would hold these workshops in the children’s native language and serve as local role models.
‘It was very important to us that the workshops and resources were designed around the specific context these children were living in,’ explains Nomfundo. ‘That’s why all our workshops are led by coaches living in these communities who have a deep understanding of the unique challenges they face and are able to put them into terms the participants will understand.’
Finding your inner lion
The desire to reach children on their terms and have a long-term impact prompted the establishment of the Little Lions Academy in 2021.
The mental health coaches (local role models) are paid a stipend and receive three months of training using a curriculum designed by Stijn and practising child psychologists to normalise mental health conversations and boost resilience.
‘Our goal is to overcome all the access barriers to preventative mental health programmes that children in under-resourced communities face, so we never ask them to come to us; we hold these workshops directly in their neighbourhood by literally putting out ten chairs on various street corners,’ Nomfundo says.
She adds, ‘We hold these workshops from Monday to Thursday at a time that doesn’t interfere with after-school programmes to ensure that we are able to reach as many kids as possible and help them find their “inner lion”.’
Because the workshops are geared towards children aged eight to thirteen, mental health concepts are taught through fun games, songs and activities designed to foster resilience, confidence and emotional awareness.
‘Over three weeks, the participants attend 12-hour-long sessions, as research shows that 12 to 16 hours is the time needed to ensure lasting behavioural change,’ she explains. ‘They leave with a sense of pride for what they have achieved and a toolkit that helps them to normalise mental health conversations.’
‘Three months after the programme ends, we invite the children to an Alumni Day, which is a booster session where we track our impact and check in with the children to see how they are doing.’
Little Lion’s mission is close to Nomfundo’s heart, having grown up in a similar community and being aware of the very real challenges these children face and how difficult it can be to express their feelings.
‘While I love seeing the positive difference we’ve made in the lives of our “little lions”, I am also so proud of the impact the workshops have had on their parents too. Many of them have shared how much it has helped their own understanding of the challenges their children face and how important it is to talk about difficult subjects. They often say that they wish the programme was longer than just three weeks—they’d love it if we stayed for the whole year!’
Building a resilient generation
By 2023, Little Lions Coaching will have held over 1100 free workshops, trained 16 mental health coaches, and operated in four of Cape Town and Stellenbosch’s largest townships: Langa, Khayelitsha, Imizamo Yethu and Klapmuts.
‘We’ve grown to the point where we are able to employ five full-time mental health coaches and have launched an ambassador programme to help with administrative and fundraising tasks, but there is still so much work to be done,’ says Nomfundo. ‘It is estimated that there are only 451 registered psychologists and psychiatrists in the South African public health care sector, and this disparity is only increased for children in townships who may have to take several forms of public transport to access these resources.’
‘While many of us may feel powerless in preventing the high levels of poverty and crime in these communities, one thing that we can do is help build resilience against the mental and emotional trauma that these issues create.’
‘Support from the public aids our mission of building a generation of resilient and confident children,’ she concludes.
Learn more about Little Lions and how you can help at littlelionschildcoaching.com.
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Picture: Little Lions Coaching / Facebook