DIRECT PARENT ACCESS/TIME: In April 2020 onwards our phone calls to Parents intensified to make appointments for House Visits and to check in on Students coping through the pandemic - this made a huge difference in families becoming more familiar with us and the program. During a house visit we have learnt what challenges the Parents have revolving the Students.  

TRUST BUILD TO PARENT: We have on numerous occasions found that Families open up about personal Challenges. They allowed us into a personal space in family challenges during our house visits. 

360 FEEDBACK ON STUDENTS | SPACE TO SHARE: It is essential for us to understand the Student through the eyes of Parents and GrandParents. Here we see what Challenges the Students are dealing with in the home environment. We provided a safe space for them to discuss issues that revolved around their kids.  

SOUNDING BOARD FOR PARENTS: What was particularly interesting/important was the understanding that was built between SmilingOne and Parents. On many occasions Parents contacted us to ask for a visit and advice in regards to Challenges that the Parents were facing to understand the Child. This shows us increased involvement from the Parent to be a partner in the Childs/students education (inner/outer)  

AGILE DURING LOCKDOWN: We always had a place to go and check on the Students (at home). Our Student session space was moved to their homes and it was the perfect place for the Parents to join in on sessions. The parent had the option to benefit and equip themselves to understand more about the student - normally those sessions would have taken place at school. So the pandemic really was a win in this regard.

SAFETY | MINDFULNESS IN HIGH RISK AREA: The Change Agent being mobile made it much easier for them to navigate around in the area to the Students' Houses. The area is not really safe - however it made a difference having a car. Also Franklin grew up in the area which meant he understood to be aware while moving around.

EVIDENCE ON IMPACT | PARENTS & STUDENTS TACKLE CHALLENGES BETTER: We experienced dramatic Changes in the parent/student relationships during this time. The Parents observed changes in the Students behaviours through first hand experience of how they dealt with the challenges in our sessions (Students and Parents present). The Parents and the Students are now equipped to tackle the  identified Challenges differently

PARENT SUPPORT: There has been instances where Parents call upon the Change Agent to chat to the Student. There have been challenges that made some of the Students contemplate dropping out of school and Parents ask the Change Agent to speak to the Students. Parents also got involved and wanted to know how to handle certain situations when it came to challenges that the Students are facing.

DIRECT INSIGHT: By doing our House Visits - we had direct insight to the Learners and Families living conditions. Families shared insightful developments that is influencing the Learner. We had an opportunity to build a relationship with families based on the assistance and support for Learners which allowed us to see Learner background, Family structures, and financial circumstances. We also get to see hobbies, sports activities, and talents of the Learners outside the school environment.          

The SmilingOne Foundation (SOF) is the NPO leg of SmilingOne. SmilingOne is the home our Circle of Change™ Academy.

During the pandemic we intensified our efforts to bring all our teachings online with the aim to service both SOF beneficiaries as well as to reach a global audience.

The Academy plays an important role in our sustainability approach for SOF - 10% of all income on online programs (booked at full price) is donated towards youth/school & prison projects. We are committed to build a solid foundation from which we can ensure long-term project partnerships and continue to give our beneficiaries free access to all our values based leadership programs.

Our intervention in SA prisons is our flagship project and will benefit youth, families, communities on a large scale. Educating more Change Agents is KEY for a successful strategy.  We aim to bring our Academy (via local intranets) into prisons across South Africa in the years to come to reach thousands of inmates.