dlalanathi

dlalanathi is an organisation driven by a desire to support healthy relationships between children and their caregivers from birth. Given the trauma of poverty, violence, and loss experienced in our country, optimal development requires attention to healthy emotional expression and mutual care.

dlalanathi uses relationship-based, trauma-informed, and strength-based participatory processes to support all those responsible for caring for children, helping them create safe emotional relationships through play. While much of our work is done directly with parents and caregivers, we place a special focus on co-creating safe spaces with youth. This approach has a dual focus: developing youth leadership and fostering healthy relationships to help prevent HIV infection and unsupported pregnancy.

All relevant and effective programmes used in our direct work are shared with others through training and training-of-trainers at local, national, and international levels.

Responsive emotional care between adults and children is the foundation of healthy development, but trauma disrupts this connection. Healing and restoring these relationships remain an urgent developmental need in our country.

Within the context of trauma and loss, our vision is for safe, loving spaces to be created and upheld by every member of the community, where children are given full permission to be children and play.

‍