Three2Six Refugee Children’s Education Project

The initiative sought to enhance physical health and learning readiness through the daily provision of nutritious meals and comprehensive psychosocial screenings. By addressing barriers such as xenophobia and issues related to lack of documentation, the project facilitated the social integration and eventual transition of a number of learners into the mainstream public school system. The Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centre ( JPCCC, Parktown) has been an impo rtant partner for 2 regular psychosocial support particularly for learners requiring one-on-one intensive support. Additionally, ome of the children in the programme have benefitted from art ther apy sessions at the Windybrow Theatre. 194 direct beneficiaries (185 refugee and migrant children aged 5–14) and 9 teachers were reached by the project. Key successes include 90% of beneficiaries achieving a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) due to the feeding programme, and several students successfully transitioned into mainstream schools. The project successfully managed logistical challenges by operating across two campuses to ensure continuity of service. From 2026, the project will move to the Windybrow Theatre to overcome space constraints at Sacred Heart College and will focus on foundational education to rectify nutritional and learning deficits early in children’s lives (grades 1-5).