The First Thousand Days
early life
Our early life programme, Sikunye, brings Common Good’s vision to life by equipping churches to support parents and young families. We create resources, train volunteers, and partner with faith communities, government, and NGOs to raise awareness of the First Thousand Days. When parents are supported, children thrive – building stronger, healthier communities for generations.
Laying Strong Foundations
why the first thousand days matter
If you want to build a strong, lasting future, you need a solid foundation. The first thousand days of a child’s life—starting from conception to the age of two—is a never-to-be-repeated period of brain development. During this time, babies are incredibly sensitive to their experiences and the care they receive from parents and caregivers.
In South Africa, over a million children are born each year, but 43% do not receive the nurturing care essential for their future success. Research shows that five key building blocks—Responsive Caregiving, Adequate Nutrition, Good Health, Opportunities for Early Learning, and Safety and Security—are critical for a child’s well-being.
the good news?
We know what children need to thrive, and parents are the most important factor in providing that care. To ensure a brighter future for our nation’s children, we must invest early.
The Role of The Local Church
Common Good’s research highlights how churches have unique strengths and assets that can be leveraged to support and strengthen families. Churches have far-reaching influence, deep community connections, and the ability to sustain long-term parenting initiatives.
this is where Sikunye comes in
To mobilize churches across the country to care for families, Common Good launched Sikunye—a movement that raises awareness and equips churches with tools, training, and resources. Through workshops, training, and events, churches are empowered to:
Raise awareness of the importance of the first thousand days.
Support families through FTD-friendly strategies.
Train volunteers to visit families and share key parenting information.
Engage and equip fathers in the parenting journey.
Address complex topics such as teen pregnancy.
By empowering churches, Sikunye helps create environments where parents receive the support and knowledge they need to give their children the best start in life.
Early Life Impact in 2024
New churches commit themselves to care for families. This brings our total network of committed churches to 1443.
Events hosted in different parts of the country. By working with our community mobilisers to host in person events, as well as team members travelling, we reached 15 different communities.
Total attendees across our 107 events.
Awareness Raising: 1061 attendees
Equipping & Supporting: 1689 attendees