As a child & youth care worker, I’ve seen how one hug can calm a child after a nightmare or a hard day. A hug says ‘you’re safe now.’ It opens the door to healing.

When I was a teenager at GBTSA, I felt invisible. One hug from my family home parent reminded me that I mattered. That hug gave me hope for my future.

When I first arrived at Girls and Boys Town South Africa, I was scared. My first hug when I arrived made me feel safe again.

Girls and Boys Town South Africa (GBTSA), in partnership with the Social Work and Community Development Department at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), embarked on a…