What is Create2Grow?

Our Approach

Create2Grow is an eight-week art group intervention designed to develop the creative abilities of children aged 8–12 with mild learning or developmental challenges, particularly those attending schools in low-resource communities. Whilst initially created for children, the program has since been successfully adapted by therapists and community workers for other purposes, such as to optimise teachers’ motivation and potential to participate in their roles as educators!

The 2023 pilot study in De Doorns (Western Cape) showed exceptional results: children became more creative and engaged during sessions and demonstrated meaningful improvements in everyday activities that mattered to them and their caregivers. Parents and caregivers described the program as practical and valuable, confirming that Create2Grow is a strong fit for similar school settings.

Create2Grow is designed to be both effective and simple to implement. It nurtures key developmental skills, such as visual perception, fine motor abilities, social interaction, executive functioning, and emotional intelligence, while empowering children to take an active role in their own growth and success.

Overall, the groups are designed to offer children a safe and creative space characterised by nurturing interactions, where participants have the opportunity to achieve and belong.

A place where process is valued over product.

Children and adults participating in a craft activity, decorating and attempting to pop water balloons made from newspaper and paint or glue, surrounded by newspapers, trays, and supplies.

Your Low-Cost Therapy Solution

Create2Grow is a feasible therapy solution for low-resource settings as it:

  • Is contextually relevant: Create2Grow has been refined according to caregivers’ and community workers’ perspectives regarding feasibility and value through research and community interactions.

  • Saves time: The program makes use of group therapy, thereby ensuring that more children benefit from therapeutic support without the high costs and time demands of individual sessions.

  • Makes use of existing systems: Create2Grow decentralises occupational therapy by empowering teachers, parents, and community members, who are socially skilled and motivated, to lead these groups as a supportive intervention.

  • Saves costs: Create2Grow reduces therapy costs to R18.00 per child per group if the initial resources are used with three groups (24 children).

  • Protects the environment: The program fosters resourcefulness and initiative amongst children by teaching them to repurpose recycled materials!

Activities that build resilience and hope through just-right challenges.

Smiling child wearing a cap and a "npr" t-shirt with arms spread wide, outdoors.
Person holding a clear plastic storage box with items including sponges, colorful fabric or tools, and a "Create2Grow" label.
Plastic container filled with a variety of items including an analogue clock box, crayons, a black weighted sack, a manual titled 'Create2Grow Program Intervention Manual,' disposable cups, and some recycled cardboard rolls.
Plastic box labeled 'Create2Grow' containing various items including colored chalk, games, and small accessories, with additional images detailing contents like a colour coded analogue clock to demonstrate time division.

“There needs to be a lot more emphasis on what a child can do instead of what he cannot do.” - Temple Grandin

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