What our partners have to say about SACAP – Gerald Kenosi, SALSO

Remember your school days? Squishy sandwiches in your too-warm lunchbox, sweat beading on your brow because you had to wear your blazer to assembly in the middle of summer. Marathon maths lessons. Compulsory sports…

Many kids in South Africa experience school differently. Uniforms, lunchboxes, and even consistent tuition don’t feature on their daily timetable. These kids would love to wear blazers and be ‘forced’ onto the playing field, but they don’t have the opportunity or resources to do so.

A strategic partnership

Fortunately, the South African Learner Support Organisation (SALSO) is changing the status quo for many scholars in Soweto. Despite being only three years old, this non-profit organisation does extremely important work.

SALSO provides support for learners who are dealing with challenging school barriers, such as bullying and GBV. It is also in the process of working with educational psychologists to identify pupils with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Additionally, the organisation assists learners with their material needs, including toiletries and school uniforms. Recognizing that many youngsters face mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, SALSO partnered with SACAP earlier this year.

SALSO is one of SACAP’s latest Work Integrated Learning (WIL) sites.

Eager to discover how the collaboration is going, we caught up with Gerald Kenosi, SALSO’s Co-Founder, and Media and Communications Manager, and asked him. He had this to say…

Solid support

“SALSO was founded to provide the support we wished we had received during our own high school experiences,” Gerald explains. “We aim to create supportive learning environments, making education engaging and relevant, fostering a love of learning, and producing passionate, competent professionals.”

The organisation is based in Lufhereng, Soweto, and it provides services to schools in the adjoining Naledi and Tladi areas. “We have also worked in the Free State and North-West province,” Gerald notes.

Four-pronged approach

SALSO has developed four programmes to tackle the most common challenges that learners encounter. Gerald explains, “Our Breaking Barriers Programme focuses on addressing issues that hinder learners from reaching their full potential, such as bullying and cognitive learning barriers.”

“SALSO’s Salubrious Program educates girls on menstrual hygiene and provides sanitary products. It also raises awareness about male circumcision hygiene,” Gerald continues. “Our No Shame Programme focuses on sexual health and safe-sex education for young people. While the Career Advice Programme offers career guidance to learners and youth in the community.”

Why SACAP?

“Our Executive Director, Itumeleng Segona, was intrigued by SACAP’s reputation as a well-established institution and reached out to explore potential collaboration opportunities,” Gerald says. “Our desire to work with professional psychologists, even in training, aligned with the goals of our Breaking Barriers Programme.”

Gerald highlights the benefits of partnering with SACAP as a WIL site, emphasizing the positive impact it has had on the mental health of the youth in their community.

“Additionally, SACAP students have the opportunity to gain practical experience through WIL placements, which is in line with our commitment to fostering professional development. We also value contributing to the growth of future mental health professionals,” Gerald explains.

Broadening benefits

Two SACAP students have been placed at SALSO for three months, and consequently, Gerald says the organisation is reaping multiple benefits. “We now offer enhanced psychosocial support services to our learners and the youth in our community, expanding the reach of our Breaking Barriers Programme.”

Increased accessibility is another partnership advantage Gerald cites. “The SACAP students have been instrumental in helping us reach more schools in need of psychosocial services, ensuring greater access to support.”

“The students are invaluable assets to the team,” Gerald asserts. “Besides directly assisting learners in need, they have contributed in many other ways. Organising and facilitating workshops and activities, for example, as well as offering emotional support and assistance to the SALSO team.”

Practical participation

Gerald says that the SACAP students are currently participating in SALSO’s ‘I Don’t Mind Mental Health Awareness Campaign.’ He explains this initiative was launched in response to a tragic event in the North West province, where a learner took their own life due to a lack of support.

“Our objective with this campaign is to motivate people to openly discuss their mental health challenges and seek support instead of enduring them alone. We intend to eliminate the stigma and foster a society where it’s acceptable to ask for help.”

Top-tier trainees

“I would give the SACAP students a perfect 10/10 rating,” Gerald offers when we ask him. “Their dedication and professionalism made them a natural fit within the school environments in which they were placed. The learners felt comfortable and connected with them, which is a testament to their interpersonal skills.”

Gerald recommends working with SACAP. He says, “From the moment we stepped into the Johannesburg campus, our collaboration has been incredibly positive. Despite being a relatively young organisation, we were treated with respect and professionalism.”

“Our partnership with SACAP has been mutually beneficial,” Gerald adds. “Our learners have benefited from the valuable services the SACAP students have provided, while the students have gained significant WIL experience. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Personal perspective

Gerald points out that he has also personally benefited from the partnership. “My experience working with SACAP has been life-changing. I received support from one of the students, which has greatly impacted my mental health journey.”

“Through these counselling sessions, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the root causes of my struggles and learned valuable self-reflection techniques.”

“Overall, this discovery has humbled me and filled me with joy as I witness others receiving the much-needed support they require,” he says.

Blossoming beginnings

Gerald feels confident that SALSO’s partnership with SACAP will continue. “It has been a seamless collaboration. SACAP has consistently provided us with dedicated students, and we have ensured that they have a sufficient workload to fulfil their WIL requirements. This mutually beneficial arrangement demonstrates a strong foundation for continued partnership,” he says.

WIL forms a key part of many SACAP programmes. It’s also crucial in helping SACAP graduates secure employment by providing them with valuable practical experience while they are still studying. If you are keen to pursue a career that can truly make a difference and you want to see tangible results from the start, consider one of SACAP’s WIL-enhanced qualifications.