Beyond the school bell: Cape Town puts afterschool programmes under the spotlight

Cape Town is looking beyond simply keeping children occupied after school, with a new youth development seminar examining how sport, recreation and structured activities can create safer, more supportive environments for young people.

The discussion brought together government representatives, researchers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to explore what makes after-school programmes meaningful, including the relationships, supervision and opportunities for personal development that learners experience outside the classroom.

Hosted by the* City of Cape Town’s* Recreation and Parks Department, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and Waves for Change (W4C), the one-day seminar took place at the Smart Living Education Centre in Green Point on Tuesday, 27 October.

Titled Beyond participation: Shaping the experiences of youth in the afterschool programme space, the gathering placed particular emphasis on the quality of activities offered to young people, rather than participation numbers alone.

A key discussion emerging from the seminar was the distinction between giving children somewhere to go after school and ensuring that they benefit from the experience.

The Learning Trust highlighted that participation is only the starting point, with the responsibility of programme providers extending to creating environments where young people feel included, develop relationships and have opportunities to discover their interests.

Charlene Petersen-Vos from The Learning Trust said: ‘A practitioner’s duty is not only to offer the programme, but to ensure that youth feel welcome, have a voice, discover their interests, build relationships and experience a sense of belonging.’

The importance of this approach was also supported by research presented at the seminar, including findings from a Planet Youth survey involving more than 47 000 Grade 8 and 9 learners across the Western Cape.

The survey indicated that participating in sport alone does not eliminate the risk of substance use among young people.

This places greater emphasis on how programmes are structured, with appropriate supervision, supportive adult relationships and a sense of belonging identified as important elements in creating protective environments.

The contribution of coaches and youth practitioners also featured prominently during the discussions.

Wayde Groep from DCAS’s Year Beyond programme shared five lessons about the role of young coaches working alongside learners.

These included the importance of responsibility in personal development, recognising that young practitioners connect with children in different ways, ensuring coaches themselves feel supported, providing intentional opportunities for growth and creating pathways beyond the programme.

The seminar also highlighted the Take 5 approach developed by Waves for Change, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of existing sports coaches.

The initiative focuses on equipping coaches to create environments where children can develop positive relationships, take a break from stress and learn practical skills to manage adversity.

Young people’s contributions to the discussions further reinforced the importance of feeling safe, having a sense of purpose, developing positive relationships and being given opportunities to build new skills.

Beyond the immediate discussions, two research projects were presented as part of efforts to better understand the impact of youth development initiatives.

The first, the ALIVE Randomised Controlled Trial, is being developed with the University of Cape Town and will examine the effectiveness of integrating the Take 5 approach into DCAS school sport programmes.

Scheduled to run between 2027 and 2029, the research will investigate the longer-term health and behavioural outcomes of adolescents at participating schools. It will also assess whether incorporating Take 5 can reduce the incidence of mental illness.

Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town is preparing its Cape Town Recreation Study, which will run across 2026 and 2027.

The seminar concluded with a panel discussion focused on strengthening collaboration between government departments, community organisations and other role-players working in the after-school sector.

In October, **Cape {town}Etc **also reported on the city’s Chess@Libraries Tournament, which brought together young players from libraries across Cape Town and used chess to encourage problem-solving, concentration and confidence.

City Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham, said the focus should extend beyond providing activities to fill the hours after school.

*‘After-school programmes should be about more than giving young people something to do. We want learners to feel safe, supported and included, with opportunities to build confidence and positive relationships. This is why working with our partners matters. By understanding what young people need, we can help make these programmes more meaningful for them,’ *highlights Higham.

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**Picture: **Gustavo Fring/Pexels

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