The programme uses a combination of animal training techniques and therapeutic workshops, aiming to help children develop life skills and refocus their lives. As part of this, the programme pairs the children with shelter dogs for animal-assisted therapy, dog training, life skills workshops and humane education classes.

Each workshop training session costs R250 ($21 USD) per child and dog team. The aim is to raise R250 000 ($21 000 USD) to keep the programme running.

Individuals who would like to help The Underdog Project can do so by taking a picture of their underdog (two or four legged) and posting it on Instagram with a caption of their favourite underdog story. They then need to include the '#ISupportTheUnderdog' hashtag and nominate two friends to do the same.

Donations to The Underdog Project are also accepted.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.underdogproject.org. You can also follow The Underdog Project on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram. Join the conversation by using the #YearOfTheUnderdog or the #TheUnderdogProject hashtags.