Nurturing Inclusive Schools Through the Isibindi Ezikoleni Child and Youth Care Work Programme

Abstract

This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the Isibindi Ezikoleni Programme, an innovative child and youth care practice model designed to enhance inclusive education in South African schools. This model strategically embeds child and youth care workers in the school setting to address the emotional, social, and educational needs of vulnerable and at-risk learners. By doing so, it aims to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for every learner to flourish and succeed. Adopting a practice-based perspective, this chapter examines how the programme contributes to mitigating barriers to education and cultivating environments conducive to the success of all learners. Through a detailed examination of its design, implementation, and impacts, this chapter provides case examples and results to illustrate the programme's role in enhancing inclusivity in South Africa's educational system.