CoE-HUMAN • NEWSLETTER July 2022 THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD GUIDE Individual and Society DSI NRF Centre of E xcellence i n Human D e v elopme n t Science and Innovation Department: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA science & innovation
More locally, we ran a health awareness campaign in Soweto focused on substance abuse and mental health among youth with support sessions for parents and family members of individuals coping with addiction. We also connected young people in Soweto with the Wits Business School new initiative – Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic, to empower youth to start and grow businesses and to create jobs locally.
This month has also seen the launch of our quantitative analysis webinar series with sessions designed to build from the basics to more complex statistical challenges. As before with our qualitative training webinar series, all content will be available on our learning Theplatform.CoEteam are now busy preparing for their trip to the International DOHaD Congress in Vancouver next month. From the Congress, they will be sharing daily insights and exciting new science around how we live (and even how our previous generations lived) shapes our future generations. Make sure to connect on our social media platforms to hear the latest updates as they happen.
Our recent work supported the launch of the 16th issue of the annual publication of The Child Gauge with a focus on Children’s mental health across the country. This was launched on 15th June 2022 - the eve of Youth Day in South Africa, and the Day of the African Child.
For research publications supported by the CoE, July has also been a busy month! So far in 2022 alone, the Centre has supported 50 papers and nine books or book chapters.
Children and adolescents in South Africa continue to face multiple adversities that erode their mental health. The study of human development puts people at the centre stage of our national concerns and emphasizes the importance of opportunities to lead full lives of one’s own choosing.
Proudlock, Shanaaz Mathews, Linda Richter, Sara Naicker, Lucy Jamieson, Neziswa Titi, Claire van der Westerhuizen, Katharine Sorsdahl, Rene Nassen, Sharon KleintjesSimphiwe Simelane, Sinah Moruane, Lieketseng Ned, Andile Dube, Katharine Hall
Launch of the South African Child Gauge 2021/2022
Children’s mental health:
The South African Child Gauge is published by the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute partnering with the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) South Africa, the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community
Children’s
Editors of the South African Child Gauge 2021/2022: Prof. Mark Tomlinson, Prof. Sharon Kleintjes and Lori Lake mental health: A catalyst for development Beam Team As mental health risks for children and adolescents escalate in the wake of COVID-19, the message of the 2021/2022 South African Child Gauge is clear: invest – and invest early – in children’s well-being across multi sectors for the world’s future prosperity.
The
The guest speakers, from fields as diverse as law and paediatrics, Professorincluded:Shanaaz Mathews (Director, UCT Child Institute); Professor Sharon Kleintjes (UCT Dept. of Psychiatry and Mental Health);Professor Rudzani Muloiwa (Head of Department, UCT Paediatrics and Child Health); Dr Yogan Pillay (Country Director, Clinton Health Access Initiative); Ms Chuma Busakhwe (Youth Researcher, CitiesRISE); and Dr Granville Whittle (Deputy Director: Social mobilisation and partnerships, National Department of Basic Education). The session was chaired by the South African Human Rights Commission Advocate Bongani Majola.
Other media features of the event: Read more @ Times Live
Speakers shared their synopses of the challenges and opportunities for South Africa, the African continent and the world - against a backdrop of climate change, new wars, impending food shortages and threats to human freedom.
Linda Richter alluded to the key role played by the publication in protecting the rights of children. “The Child Gauge has been absolutely steadfast in its approach to ensuring we understand how laws are changing, what data is available and focusing on an issue that enables us to work together to realise children’s rights.”
The hybrid virtual/in-person launch held at the University of Cape Town was led by Associate Professor Tracey Naledi, the Deputy Dean of Health Services at UCT and Director at Tekano (non-profit organisation for health equality).Professor
The publication calls for a holistic societal response to protect children, build their capacity to cope with stress and adversity, and provide opportunities to thrive. It further calls for responses to be multi-layered and multi-sectoral, pooling human and capital resources in achieving sustainability.(Co-director, Stellenbosch University’s Institute For
The campaign attracted over 100 youth and parents and included the South African Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group Guest(SADAG).speakers led discussion groups and talks on the impact of substance abuse on mental and physical health and on community and family life. Mr Thato Mbha famously known as TT Mbha and Mrs Claudine Mofokeng delivered motivational talks while attendees were entertained by a community dance group. SANCA and SADAG also discussed rehabilitation and other services such as counselling.
In response to requests from the local community, the event aimed to raise awareness about the effects of substance abuse and to connect victims and affected individuals to organizations that can assist them.
Wits Health HUBB Future Skills Training for Youth
To celebrate and support youth and families as part of National Youth Day, our affiliated programme, the Wits Health Hubb, ran an event at the Jabulani youth development centre (DLab) in Soweto on 24th June 2022.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Visit Wits Health HUBB
Another exciting event which took place at the Wits Health Hubb in Jabulani saw the CoE collaborating with Wits Business School’s new Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic (WEC). According to STATSSA, in Q1: 2022, the unemployment rate in 15-24yr olds is over 60%. This event on July 22nd saw youth from the Jabulani site engaging with the WEC team to pitch business ideas and to access mentoring and business development support. The aim is to develop aspiring young entrepreneurs to become future job creators in South Africa. Youth attending the event reported learning how research is critical to understand the market and gain competitive advantage, how to build a business plan and use e-commerce, and the importance of registering and trademarking.
Working with Wits biostatisticians we developed a six-part webinar series which teaches key concepts in statistical application, using a fast-track method to gain statistical knowledge. The first webinar “Spurious statistical relationships…what’s in a P-value?” went live on 30 June 2022. With each webinar, we progress from basic to more complex statistical approaches but don’t worry if you miss any, you will be able to access all the content through our learning pages. The 2ND webinar “To transform or not to transform… challenges with linearity in regression models?” took place on Thursday 28 July 2022 @ 14:30 SAST (UTC+2). “To transform or not to transform… challenges with linearity in regression models?” took place on Thursday 28 July 2022 @ 14:30 SAST (UTC+2). Quantitative Analysis Training Webinar Series Visit CoE-Human Learning Resources With the remaining webinars scheduled as follows: Webinar 3: Introduction to variance component models, 5 September 2022 Webinar 4: Questionnaire development and factor analysis, 29 September 2022 Webinar 5: Introduction to metanalyses and systematic reviews, 27 October 2022 Webinar 6: The scientific method and reporting of scientific research, 24 November 2022 To view previous learning resources, visit:
This year’s theme ‘Social and Environmental Disruptions in DOHaD: Successful Interventions for a Healthy Future’ is highly topical for global health and well-being. Each year, this congress presents and promotes ground breaking research, helping us to understand how to optimise the health and welfare for future generations. For more information or registration visit: Visit DOHaD 2022 for more Info & Registration DOHaD Africa Chapter To make sure you stay updated with breaking news from our team on the ground, join the DOHaD family by signing up for FREE MEMBERSHIP to DOHaD Africa Visit DOHaD Africa for FREE membership sign up CoE-HUMAN • NEWSLETTER • JulyDOHaD2022 World Congress Individual and Society DSI NRF Centre of E xcellence i n Human D e v elopme n t Science and Innovation Department: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA science & innovation Follow DOHaD 2022:
