Standing Together for Parents with South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN)

Standing Together for Parents with South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN)

12 Aug 2025


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At the DO MORE FOUNDATION, our mission to strengthen families and nurture young children is deeply rooted in collaboration. Over the past year, a strategic partnership amplifying our parenting work has been our active membership in the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN). SAPPIN, the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network, is a network of NGOs that use evidence-based research to develop parenting programmes across South Africa.

Member organisations develop and run various programmes that guide and support parents and caregivers, to foster safe, warm, secure, non-violent home environments that allow children to reach their full potential.

We reflect on the following outcomes that have emerged by being a part of the network:

1. A stronger programme through evidence infomred practice, shared research and learning

SAPPIN’s commitment to building a national body of evidence on parenting has been invaluable. Through shared research studies, practical guidelines, and a collective drive to understand what works in parenting support, our programmes are underpinned by a growing knowledge base that is locally relevant and globally informed.

This means when we engage parents in under-resourced communities whether through play-based learning, nutrition education, or psychosocial support we do so knowing our approaches align with emerging national insights. It strengthens our case to adapt, innovate, and scale with confidence.

2. Alignment with core values that put parents and children first

As members of SAPPIN, we are committed to a set of fundamental principles that guide how parenting programmes should be designed and delivered across South Africa. These principles include being child-centred and family-focused, ensuring interventions are inclusive and culturally responsive, and upholding the dignity and agency of parents and caregivers at every turn.

SAPPIN also emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice, intersectoral collaboration, and building on existing community strengths. This means that whether we’re facilitating playful parenting sessions or providing resources for responsive feeding, we do so in ways that respect families’ contexts, draw on what’s already working, and connect parents to broader support systems.

For our funders and partners, this alignment assures that their investments are channeled into programmes that meet nationally recognised standards of quality and ethics.

3. National endorsement and advocacy through a collective voice

Our participation in SAPPIN signals to our partners that our parenting initiatives are not operating in isolation, but are part of a nationally coordinated effort championed by DBE and UNICEF. It ensures that the investment made by our corporate partners is leveraged in a way that contributes to broader national objectives.

Through SAPPIN, we also add our voice to a powerful collective advocating for policies and resources that prioritise family strengthening. This shared platform amplifies our individual efforts, making it far more likely that systemic changes from policy shifts to funding decisions will sustain and grow support for parents and caregivers across South Africa.

4. Exploring NGO challenges in a healthy way

Being part of SAPPIN has also provided us with a space to explore, with honesty and humility, the deeper organisational challenges that often underpin our work. Among these are the well-being of our own staff, who routinely hold the emotional weight of families’ stories, and the need for reflective supervision that helps practitioners process their experiences, build resilience, and continue offering empathetic, high-quality support.

*“A strong parenting programme rests not only on well-trained staff, but on staff who feel seen, supported, and equipped to navigate the emotional weight of this work that is so closely linked with the trauma and societal issues we carry as south africans and as parents ourselves” - Jessica Ronaasen, Advocacy & Innovation Lead *

Through open dialogue and peer learning within SAPPIN, we are building a stronger internal culture one where staff well-being is prioritised, learning is continuous, and our teams are better prepared to stand alongside parents in meaningful ways.

Looking ahead

We invite you to learn more about SAPPIN and the incredible work being done across the country to support parents and caregivers:

Visit the SAPPIN website: https://www.sappin.org.za/

Read SAPPIN’s latest national research on parenting programme facilitator wellbeing: https://sappin.org.za/research/