Kgolo Mmogo Booklet | Page 74

BACKGROUND FOR THE FACILITATOR You get external assets and internal assets. All people have assets: we first need to identify these assets before we can make use of them. It is important for children to use all their assets for developing their full potential. External assets are those things available to a person in his or her environment and people around him or her. Internal assets are those things inside a person himself or herself. Let's first look at a person's external assets: ASSETS FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL The Kgolo-Mmogo Manual has adopted an asset-based approach. In this approach strengths and capacities in the internal and external environments are identified in order to be mobilized for psycho-social support. A) External Assets (Things available to a person in his or her environment and people around him or her) - Family is important to provide support and love. In a loving family positive communication is possible where a child will feel comfortable to seek guidance from his/her parents. - Family rules are necessary to provide boundaries where children can feel safe and parents are aware of their children whereabouts. - Goals set for children n must be realistic and attainable. It must encourage children to reach their full potential - Appropriate tasks for the children at home and in their community teach them responsibility, for example making up their own beds and taking out the rubbish bin - Boundaries and rules at school - School activities where both children and parents are involved - Community activities where children and their families can give help others in need, for example church groups - A neighborhood where people care about each other - Feeling protected and safe at home and school - Adults who are positive role models - Positive influence of friends, for example friends who do not use drugs or alcohol. Next we will discuss internal assets. Remember it is those assets inside a person himself or herself. HIV Intervention Programme for the ENHANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE 71