top of page

Love Bugs

Our Love Bugs Programme provides a safe and healing space where severely neglected children not in school have an opportunity 

to stabilise and become ready to attend formal school. 

  

We welcome children who are not in school due to various social issues exacerbated by continued institutional failure to provide thousands of children with education. Through the BAP Method of art, stories and social games and by following the same structure each day, these children gain rhythm, orientation and routine. 

 

Love Bugs is our response to severely neglected children

love-bug-time.png

We run two x 2-hour community classes with 20 children per group

love-bug.png

40 Children in total (10 children per classroom)

love-bug-calendar.png

Four days

a week

love-bug-age.png

Children's ages range from 5 - 12 years

Love Bugs focuses on the holistic development of the child, incorporating elements of nature in the classroom and encouraging creativity and free play as part of learning. In particular, form drawing exercises strengthen their handwriting, thinking and life force.  

  

Our Love Bugs classes run from Monday to Thursday at our Art Centre in Vrygrond during the 4 school terms, serving a maximum of 40 children a day. As the Love Bugs children experience sever neglect, starting and ending each class with a healthy snack is an important part of our BAP Method which contributes to their safety and stability. Each day we provide all our Love Bugs with a bowl of cooked porridge, a freshly baked homemade roll and a fresh fruit at the end of the day. Part of our termly rhythm is ending the quarter with a celebration, celebrating the children's participation throughout the term. This celebration can be in the form of a class party, parent day or an excursion relating to the theme of the term.  

 

None of what we achieve would be possible without the co-operation of the State Social Workers and children’s parents/guardians who work with us. We educate, engage and support the Love Bugs’ parents/guardians to find a school for their children when they are school ready. We link them to state social workers so they can be guided, challenged and motivated to take appropriate care and action for their children. They know up front that we involve social workers when needed. Every parent/guardian signs a co-operation agreement with us. 

 

Because children must be in school, we are required by law to share their information with a social worker. We have a very good working co-operation with a local Department of Social Development worker. Through her help and support, we are able to formally lodge complaints against parents/guardians who we identify as deliberately neglectful of their children. The social worker has always intervened swiftly and fairly. 

lovebug-1.png

2019

37 children registered in the Love Bug Programme with 0    children successfully registered in formal school. 

lovebug-2.png

2020

31 children registered in the Love Bug Programme with 4 children successfully registered in formal school. 

lovebug-3.png

2021

60 children registered in the Love Bug Programme with 20 children successfully registered in formal school 

lovebug-4.png

2022

61 children registered in the Love Bug Programme with 34 children successfully registered in formal schooling for 2022.  

 

As at September 2022, a further 15 Love Bugs have been registered for formal schooling in 2023. 

our impact

Don't hesitate to make contact with us if you want to start your own

Love Bugs in your own community or community you serve:

charles@butterflyartproject.org

bottom of page