Eighty-six Community Caregivers from disadvantaged communities across North West are set to celebrate a major milestone after completing a formal qualification in Child and Youth Care Work.
The caregivers will graduate with an NQF Level 4 qualification at a ceremony at Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mafikeng on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The graduation is being hosted by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) as part of an initiative aimed at recognising the knowledge and experience caregivers have gained through years of community service.
The graduates come from all four districts of the North West, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Bojanala Platinum and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati. Many of the caregivers have spent years working directly with children and families in vulnerable communities, despite not having formal qualifications. Through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, their practical experience, knowledge and skills were assessed and formally recognised towards the NQF Level 4 Child and Youth Care Work qualification.
The process required learners to go through selection and induction and gather evidence demonstrating the knowledge and skills they had developed through their work.
For the caregivers, the qualification represents more than a certificate. It is recognition of work they have already been doing in their communities.
Community Caregivers, also known as Child and Youth Care Workers, play an important role in supporting vulnerable children, including children affected by HIV/AIDS, children living in difficult circumstances and those in child- and youth-headed households. The Department of Social Development works with and funds non-profit organisations to respond to some of the country’s most pressing social challenges, including child abuse, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and femicide, substance abuse and poverty.
Many people working through these organisations have gained valuable experience on the ground but have not always had access to formal qualifications. The RPL programme is intended to bridge that gap by giving experienced workers an opportunity to have their existing competencies formally recognised.
The Department said the initiative would also contribute to the professionalisation of services provided by funded NPOs and help ensure that workers meet the requirements associated with the Child and Youth Care Work qualification. The graduation ceremony will therefore not only celebrate the 86 graduates but also recognise the contribution Community Caregivers make to child protection and social development services across the province.
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