DROP-IN CENTRE MODEL OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION TO STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES LIVING IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED ENVIRONMENTS: A SOUTH AFRICAN CASE STUDY

In Mamelodi's townships, this study probes the Stanza Bopape Drop-in Centre's capacity to bolster resilience among children raised by grandparents by contrasting its holistic blend of emotional, educational, and material assistance with narrower programmes. We conducted a qualitative secondary analysis of interviews and focus-group transcripts from eighteen learners aged 9-16 and one auxiliary social worker, framed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and Ebersöhn's Indigenous flocking perspective. Findings reveal five synergistic dynamics caring rituals that foster security, homework and meal provision that alleviate stress, peer-led "flocks" that co-regulate emotions, coordinated linkages across home, school, and social services, and emerging leadership aspirations that together buffer adversity and cultivate agency. These insights underscore the transformative potential of multi-service, community-anchored drop-in centres and advocate for scaling such integrated hubs as sustainable pathways to empower marginalized youth.