THE South African Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) is keeping children off the streets this school holiday through play and other physical activities.
This is to keep the five to 13-year-olds busy and away from negative and harmful influences. The programme, conducted by volunteers is at Altrec Sports Complex, Eastbank for the entire week.
Lebogang Masemola, a volunteer, said they would target 100 children a day and 500 by the end of the week. “The purpose is to keep them busy and from tempting negative influences seen on television programmes, and smoking, drinking and fighting which they experience every day,” she said.
“The activities and motivational talks are to protect them at their impressionable and experimenting age so that they are able to make informed and positive choices about their lives.”
Masemola identified some of the dangers as date rape which often happens after consuming spiked drinks and alcohol, being coerced into criminal activities by friends, and falling into sexual abuse for rewards as a defence against poverty.
She said she hoped the community and children attend in numbers. There will be free programmes provided by non-profit organisations for the children’s stimulation and motivation, and for skills to protect them against abuse.
Emmanuel Mangena, Sanca’s regional manager, said alcohol and substance abuse – sniffing glue and cigarette and drug smoking – were major concerns which children needed protection from.
“We target this age group as they are most vulnerable to influence and exploitation, including sexually. Our programme imparts life and coping skills to them so that they can be alert to abuse before it [happens] to them,” he said.
Details: Sanca 011 346 1500.
