As we approach International Family Day on May 15th, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the success of the City of Cape Town’s Strengthening Families programme. This initiative has completed a decade since its pilot in 2013 and has become a critical part of the City’s numerous social crime and substance abuse interventions. The programme has supported more than 1,700 families in the region, focusing on substance abuse prevention and interventions.
Access to nature is not a luxury but a necessity for physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing. Numerous studies in many countries have documented the benefits of being in nature. However, more research needs to be done in developing countries on the importance of nature experience. In these countries, nature is often considered a luxury once basic needs are met. Instead, the focus is on economic development, housing and sanitation, and access to green space. As urbanization accelerates in developing countries, nature experience is becoming increasingly rare, and access to nature and green spaces is highly skewed along socioeconomic lines.
