The Recreation and Parks Department, together with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), and Waves for Change (W4C) hosted a seminar on how to improve young people's experiences in afterschool programmes. 

The City’s  Recreation and Parks Department, Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), and Waves for Change held a one-day seminar at the Smart Living Education Centre in Green Point, Cape Town, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

The seminar, titled Beyond participation: Shaping the experiences of youth in the afterschool programme space, gathered government officials, researchers and NGO practitioners in the field of sport, recreation and youth to share and discuss what makes the hours after school supportive and meaningful for young people.

The Learning Trust highlighted that while participation in afterschool programmes open the door, the sector’s responsibility begins with what young people experience once they enter the programme.

‘A practitioner’s duty is not only to offer the programme, but to ensure that youth feel welcome, have a voice, discover their interests, build relationships and experience a sense of belonging,’ said Charlene Petersen-Vos from The Learning Trust.

Participation in sport alone does not eliminate substance-use risks. This was reflected in a Planet Youth survey with over 47 000 Grade 8 and 9 learners across the Western Cape, which indicated that taking part in sport does not eliminate the risk of substance use.

Research evidence calls for quality programmes that provide appropriate supervision, positive adult relationships and a sense of belonging.

So what makes the afterschool space protective? Wayde Groep from DCAS’s Year Beyond programme shared five lessons learnt about the young coach who works beside the learner:

• Responsibility grows people
  
• Young practitioners reach children differently
  
• Young coaches need to feel safe and seen too
  
• Growth has to be intentional and supported
  
• The year has to lead somewhere 

For DCAS and Waves for Change, the Take 5 approach to improve coach competency is showing success.  W4C developed Take 5, to strengthen the skills of existing sport coaches, to create safe spaces where children experience caring relationships, respite from stress and learn skills to manage adversity. Young people’s voices further emphasised the importance of safety, belonging, purpose, positive relationships and opportunities to develop skills. These insights point to the need for afterschool programmes that go beyond keeping young people occupied and create meaningful developmental experiences.

Two upcoming research projects were presented. The ALIVE Randomised Controlled Trial with the University of Cape Town will test the efficacy of Take 5 when it is integrated into DCAS school sport programmes. Over three years, 2027 to 2029, ALIVE will investigate the long term health and behaviour outcomes of adolescents in participating schools and test whether including Take 5 reduces the incidence of mental illness. For the City of Cape Town, embarking on the Cape Town Recreation Study over 2026 and 2027 aims to understand participation in sport and recreation and the factors that drive participation.

The day concluded with a panel discussion with a key tasks moving forward - working towards closer collaboration and partnership across the sector.

‘Afterschool programmes should be about more than giving young people something to do. We want learners to feel safe, supported and included, with opportunities to build confidence and positive relationships. This is why working with our partners matters. By understanding what young people need, we can help make these programmes more meaningful for them,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.