The Mikhulu Trust was established to help families living in conditions of adversity to develop nurturing and non-violent family relationships. Working with families of young children (under age-6), we aim to reduce violence in the home, thereby enhancing child development and reducing the likelihood of children developing later aggressive and violent behaviour. We achieve this aim by delivering an evidence-based positive parenting and early literacy programme, ‘dialogic book-sharing’ – where parents share wordless picture books with their young children. Research studies show three dramatic improvements in (i) level of sensitive parenting, (ii) child socio-emotional development and (iii) child cognitive development.

The project aims to print and distribute 9000 books addressing issues on gender and violence for use by caregivers and their young children.