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Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape
Introduction According to The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2018) the First Thousand Days (FTD) of life, which is the period from conception to two years old, is a unique window of opportunity. There is a wide body of evidence pointing to the role of stable and responsive caregiving to en...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Division of Occupational Therapy
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613337731203072 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Folly, Akouvi |
| author2 | Sonday, Amshuda |
| author_browse | Folly, Akouvi Sonday, Amshuda |
| author_facet | Sonday, Amshuda Folly, Akouvi |
| author_sort | Folly, Akouvi |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Introduction According to The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2018) the First Thousand Days (FTD) of life, which is the period from conception to two years old, is a unique window of opportunity. There is a wide body of evidence pointing to the role of stable and responsive caregiving to ensure the thriving of children. Sikunye, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) birthed from Common Ground Church seeks to equip and mobilise churches to become FTD friendly. The implementation of Sikunye's FTD strategies is carried out collaboratively by church volunteers. However, there is a paucity in understanding how the beneficiaries of FTD services, namely, the caregivers, are experiencing the current strategies that are being promoted. Therefore, this research study aimed to explore the perceptions of support amongst caregivers within FTD-friendly churches. Methods The study made use of a qualitative, descriptive inquiry, using an interpretivist approach. Data was collected in the form of a focus group with five participants from five FTD-friendly churches. Data was analysed using an inductive approach and thematic analysis. The focus group was conducted in English. However, isiXhosa-translated consent forms and information leaflets were provided. The focus group lasted 2 hours. Findings The main theme that emerged from the study was "They say it takes a village and it really does": The support of an FTD-friendly church community is needed for the raising of a child. This describes the perceptions of caregivers in their FTD who felt that there are many aspects that need to be present within a church to feel supported. It requires the members of that church to create that experience. Two categories emerged from the findings. Category one: Types of support needed from my village (church) to raise a child. Category two: How I feel about the type of support received from my village (church) to raise a child. Recommendations from caregivers around the importance of creating a context that allows caregivers to express their needs whilst feeling surrounded by their community were made. This in turn fosters other pillars of support, such as prayer, equipping and preparing, collaborating and referring and lastly, creating warm and welcoming spaces. 4 Discussion Caregiver support is shaped by a complex, interconnected set of factors that work together fluidly rather than in isolation, with tangible elements like physical spaces enhancing intangible feelings of connection. This integrated approach, especially within faith communities, reinforces the importance of strengthening existing community-based supports. Conclusion There are many contextual factors, influencing caregiver experience of support and it is not possible to look at each in a silo. An integrated model of support is required. Support is not as rigid, isolated and clearly defined as we think it is, but it is integrated, fluid, connected and works in tandem continuously with one another to complement and strengthen one another. This ensures a comprehensive experience of support. A collaborative and community-driven approach is needed to support caregivers in their FTD, this study shows how churches are uniquely positioned to ensure the thriving of children in their FTD. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42188 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:32.198Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Division of Occupational Therapy |
| publisherStr | Division of Occupational Therapy |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42188 Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape Folly, Akouvi Sonday, Amshuda Pillay, Sarosha The United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF the First Thousand Days FTD-friendly churches Introduction According to The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2018) the First Thousand Days (FTD) of life, which is the period from conception to two years old, is a unique window of opportunity. There is a wide body of evidence pointing to the role of stable and responsive caregiving to ensure the thriving of children. Sikunye, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) birthed from Common Ground Church seeks to equip and mobilise churches to become FTD friendly. The implementation of Sikunye's FTD strategies is carried out collaboratively by church volunteers. However, there is a paucity in understanding how the beneficiaries of FTD services, namely, the caregivers, are experiencing the current strategies that are being promoted. Therefore, this research study aimed to explore the perceptions of support amongst caregivers within FTD-friendly churches. Methods The study made use of a qualitative, descriptive inquiry, using an interpretivist approach. Data was collected in the form of a focus group with five participants from five FTD-friendly churches. Data was analysed using an inductive approach and thematic analysis. The focus group was conducted in English. However, isiXhosa-translated consent forms and information leaflets were provided. The focus group lasted 2 hours. Findings The main theme that emerged from the study was "They say it takes a village and it really does": The support of an FTD-friendly church community is needed for the raising of a child. This describes the perceptions of caregivers in their FTD who felt that there are many aspects that need to be present within a church to feel supported. It requires the members of that church to create that experience. Two categories emerged from the findings. Category one: Types of support needed from my village (church) to raise a child. Category two: How I feel about the type of support received from my village (church) to raise a child. Recommendations from caregivers around the importance of creating a context that allows caregivers to express their needs whilst feeling surrounded by their community were made. This in turn fosters other pillars of support, such as prayer, equipping and preparing, collaborating and referring and lastly, creating warm and welcoming spaces. 4 Discussion Caregiver support is shaped by a complex, interconnected set of factors that work together fluidly rather than in isolation, with tangible elements like physical spaces enhancing intangible feelings of connection. This integrated approach, especially within faith communities, reinforces the importance of strengthening existing community-based supports. Conclusion There are many contextual factors, influencing caregiver experience of support and it is not possible to look at each in a silo. An integrated model of support is required. Support is not as rigid, isolated and clearly defined as we think it is, but it is integrated, fluid, connected and works in tandem continuously with one another to complement and strengthen one another. This ensures a comprehensive experience of support. A collaborative and community-driven approach is needed to support caregivers in their FTD, this study shows how churches are uniquely positioned to ensure the thriving of children in their FTD. 2025-11-12T10:11:50Z 2025-11-12T10:11:50Z 2025 2025-11-12T10:08:50Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MCom http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42188 eng application/pdf Division of Occupational Therapy Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | The United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF the First Thousand Days FTD-friendly churches Folly, Akouvi Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| title_full | Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| title_fullStr | Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| title_short | Exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day-friendly churches in the Western Cape |
| title_sort | exploring perceptions of support amongst caregivers in first thousand day friendly churches in the western cape |
| topic | The United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF the First Thousand Days FTD-friendly churches |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42188 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT follyakouvi exploringperceptionsofsupportamongstcaregiversinfirstthousanddayfriendlychurchesinthewesterncape |