Educating children on their rights
Tsakane - Various crèches, stakeholders and the local police took to the streets last Friday to celebrate the start of Children Protection Week.
The festivities kicked off from the mall as the children marched in song while holding placards with messages about their rights and needs, to the stadium.
Upon arrival at the stadium the children were entertained and educated on what their rights are, where they can get help and how they can always go to the police when in trouble.
“We are promoting awareness on rights of children and child safety (in different circumstances) through working together with five crèche associations of Tsakane which comprise Back Yard Crèches Association, Bambanani Association, Arise and Shine Association, Tsakane Association and the Langaville Crechès Association.
“The march is a demonstration by the children as a plea not to be abused by the society and that they need to be protected and loved.
“Thank you to the EMS, Life Line, Eskom, NPA and the EMPD for partnering with us and making this awareness a success,” says Sergant Lebohang Ramayisa, of the Tsakane Social Crime Prevention Unit.
Chairperson of the Arise and Shine Association and speaker of the Greater Brakpan Crèches Association and Stakeholders, Zodwa Chulu expressed that the initiative is all about the children.
She adds that through this they want to empower the young minds and entertain them to make them feel free.
“It is important for children to know their rights and be aware of what is happening around them.
“Children must also not be afraid of the police but should know that they can go to them for help because we find that parents threaten their children with law enforcement officers. However, in the end the policemen and women then become the enemy while the criminals become their friends,” she says.
Khanyakazi Tuphe from Life Line explains that as intermediaries their work entails helping children under the age of 18 to testify out of court, for court purposes especially in instances of sexual abuse, child neglect or assault cases.
“We come across a lot of cases where we see children suffering from abuse, hence it is imperative for communities to co-parent children with their families.
“Let us be vigilant and speak out about abuse as families are keeping quiet about such issues and people should always remember that if you see a child being abused or they tell you and you don’t report it, you can be charged as an accomplice to the crime,” she says.
Tuphe encourages community members to make sure that they love, care and protect for their young people.
