building
a better Future

Our lived experience shapes who we become as individuals and as a nation. Imagine if all of us grew up thriving, it would create massive new opportunity for our country – a stronger economy and a safer, happier society.

3,000 children are born every day in South Africa; 1 million every year. They’re healthier, better educated and financially more protected than their parents were, but there seems to be a slowing of the gains of the past thirty years and even some signs of reversal. Without faster change, the future will look like it does today.
It is children who can lead us to a new future.

Collaborating with Communities

We know that when all of society gets behind a national programme for children with an organisation that drives the programme then action can be accelerated - which is what Hold My Hand is all about.

As a country we are committed to a future where every child & teen has access to enough resources – food, health, education, safety, a loving and nurturing environment and community support to grow to their full potential. We will address critical issues like child protection & adolescent development, and work hand-in-hand with government, civil society and the private sector to drive meaningful change.

Child Care

Strengthen families and enable parents & caregivers to care for their children.
The estimated infant mortality rate for 2022 was 30 deaths per 1 000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate reached 40. [Slemming, W, et al. South African Child Gauge (2024)]

Child Health

Reduce infant & child deaths.
Only 1 in 3 children live with both their mother and father. [Hall K. Children Count (2024)]

Eliminate HIV transmission to babies

Eliminate HIV transmission to babies.
The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has declined significantly – from 6.7% nationally in 2014 to 2.7% in 2022 – due to South Africa’s successful Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programme. Children of adolescent mothers are particularly vulnerable to HIV exposure or acquisition. While antiretroviral coverage in children has increased, 60 it continues to lag behind adult coverage. [District Health Information System]

Child Nutrition

Improve child nutrition.
1 in 4 children under 5 years do not get enough nutritious food to grow their brains properly. [Simelane T, et al. National Food and Nutrition Security Survey: National Report (2023)]

Early Learning

Grow children’s brain power through early learning & language development.
Less than half of 4- to 5-year-olds are on track for early learning. [DataDrive 2030 Thrive by Five data (2021)]

Child Disabilities

Prevent disability in children and give those with disabilities the same opportunities as others.
In some parts of the country, 1 in 3 children are brain damaged because their moms drank alcohol when they were pregnant. [Louw JG et al. A multi-year, multi-site study of the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in South Africa (2024)]

Child Safety

Protect children & teens from all forms of abuse, violence, injuries and harmful substances.
By 16 years one in 3 of our adolescents will have experienced physical or sexual abuse [Burton P et al. The Optimus study on child abuse, violence and neglect in South Africa (2015)]
Prevalence rates of Foetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD) are as high as 29% in some high-risk rural communities [Oliver, et al. (2016) ]
More than 1 in 10 children feel unsafe at home. [Savahl & Adams (2021)]
More than 3 in 10 children feel unsafe in their neighbourhood. [Savahl & Adams (2021)]
More than 13% of children indicate that they did not feel safe at school. [Savahl & Adams (2021)

Teen Health

Give teenagers good access to health care, including sexual & reproductive health.
South Africa also has a high rate of adolescent pregnancies. Approximately 132 000 deliveries to adolescents in 2022/3 – 14% of all facility-based deliveries, with 2.6% being to girls 10 to 14 years. [District Health Barometer 2022/2023 (2024)]

Education and Training

Increase participation in quality education & training and link school-leavers to work.
1 in 2 teenagers leaving school don’t find work [StatsSA. Quarterly Labour Force Survey (2024)]

Personal Identity

Build teenagers’ sense of identity, agency & connectedness.

Together we can do more

Join us as we drive a national mobilisation campaign urging all of society to hold the hands of children as we develop a future for South Africa.

Have a question? Want to learn more about Hold My Hand or get involved?  Reach out to us!
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