THE PARENT CENTRE

TPC is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of violence against children, which is in turn linked to the prevention of other societal problems such as crime, gender-based violence (GVB), substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and HIV infection.

The Centre’s prevention work is focused on empowering parents and caregivers to be confident in their parenting role, to be responsible and involved parents who are able to build positive, loving relationships with their children and manage their children’s behaviour effectively and without using violent methods of discipline.

The Centre believes that all families, even the most vulnerable and overburdened, can thrive with the necessary support and guidance; that all children and youth have unlimited potential and will flourish in a secure family environment; and the best place for any child is in a stable home with effective, nurturing and resilient parents and caregivers.

The mission and strategic objectives of TPC include:

• To facilitate the safety and healthy emotional development of children from conception to early adulthood.

• To promote the well-being and self-esteem of parents and caregivers.

• To promote active, involved and nurturing fatherhood;

• To prevent child abuse; victimisation and neglect;

• To enhance children’s capacity to be resilient, caring, competent and creative members of society

• To contribute to the prevention of teenage pregnancy substance abuse; HIV and AIDS and GBV

• To encourage the establishment of a loving, nurturing environment that strengthens the family and society.

These objectives are achieved through:

• Providing psycho-social support, parenting information and skills and other life-skills to parents & care-givers through an antenatal and postnatal home visiting programme; counselling; support groups; parenting courses, workshops and lectures; a fatherhood training programme; a teen parenting programme and a parenting library.

• Collaborating with and providing training and ongoing support to other organisations and practitioners who support and work with parents, equipping them to engage with parents and caregivers in an effective; empowering and sensitive manner.

• Collaborating with other organisations to provide the children, youth and families whom TPC serves with access to essential services and resources e.g. nutrition; financial support; job skills training; education; leadership training; healthcare; HIV treatment and drug rehabilitation programmes.

• Disseminating parenting information through mass media (broadcast; print and digital media; public speaking and events).