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New and expectant mothers are invited to ten free classes at the Hanover Park library to empower and equip them to take care of themselves and their babies.
The library has partnered with Noeleen Sylvester, facilitator of the Flourish Network, to provide support to new and expectant mothers.
Flourish empowers and equips mothers with the skills and information to care well for themselves and to provide nurturing care to their children in the critical first 1 000 days.
“This is 10 free classes addressing various stages of the antenatal and postnatal process. After the 10 classes, the group has a graduation/baby shower and receives a goodie bag. Flourish had the roadshow called ‘Flourish with Friends’ at Hanover Park library on 1 July (this year) to relaunch in the province,” says Lucien Ruiters, senior librarian.
Other libraries that benefitted from the organisation are Manenberg library, Valhalla Park library, Belhar library and Heideveld library.
Flourish moms are encouraged to attend all ten classes to get a goodie bag and a blanket. If they only attend six classes they’ll only receive a goodie bag for antenatal moms and a baby blanket for postnatal moms.
When moms or expectant moms attend these classes at a Flourish franchisee, like the Hanover Park and other libraries mentioned, the services offered by them are in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Peer learning is encouraged, evidence-based information is provided and support is given to pregnant and new moms to raise their babies to flourish and grow great.
Antenatal classes for expectant moms and postnatal classes for moms of babies below the age of six months are offered.
Various topics on the first thousand days including self-care, baby’s development during pregnancy, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, maternal nutrition and mental health are covered.
Moms also do fun activities in each class.
Face-to-face or virtual classes are offered.
The face-to-face classes are at the homes of the moms, local school or community hall, church or place of worship, sports and recreation centres and in the case of Hanover Park, in the library.
The virtual class is conducted online over a data-free platform called Veedo. These two options were to ensure all women in South Africa can be reached by offering different ways to attend class.
This initiative is aligned with the City of Cape Town’s Library and Information Services 1 000 Stories Before School campaign.
This campaign consist of four booklets. Booklet 1 is called “Read to the bum”, the target group is 26 weeks to birth. Booklet 2 is called “Buzzing Ba-Bee” and focuses on birth to 12 months. Booklet 3 is called
“Movers and shakers” and the target group is 12 months to 36 months and finally “Budding bees” booklet focus on 3 to 5 years old.
