A missing child is one too many, keep children safe

According to Missing Children South Africa, one child goes missing in the country every five hours, either through trafficking or finding solace on the streets.

International Day for Street Children, in its sixth year, was commemorated on 14 April and the National Children and Violence Trust, which supports vulnerable groups, implores communities to join forces in providing a safe and conducive environment for children.

The Trust’s senior social worker, Judith Mthombeni said with more than 15 million South African children under the age of 14, and 5.6-million of them being under the age of four, it was in the hands of families and communities to ensure that children did not resort to living on the streets as a desperate measure to avoid being at home.

Mthombeni added, “It is not uncommon for children in South Africa to live separately from their biological parents, or in the care of relatives or friends, especially due to factors such as parents divorcing and the fear of getting into trouble at school or at home, substance abuse or bullying.”

The Trust lists five signs that indicate a child is planning to run away and how to handle it:

•  Withdrawal: Take note if a child withdraws and becomes an introvert. A sudden preoccupation with privacy and being extremely secretive is also a clear warning sign – communicate consistently with your child.
•  Travel bag: Look out for a bag packed with clothes and a few essentials that may be hidden out of sight. It is a carefully planned sign of an escape option. If you find a bag, speak to the child about why they’ve packed it and what it is for and show that you are listening to their concerns.
•  New and unknown friends: A sudden change in friendships can trigger a decision to run away from home or turn to a life on the street. Get to know your child’s friends by name and take an interest in their friendships.
•  Bunking school: While the impression is created that a child is attending school, they may be skipping class or leaving early. Keep track of homework assignments, the school programme and know the child’s teachers.
•  Domestic violence: Any form of abuse at home will result in a child avoiding home. Regular sleepovers at a friend’s house are a good indicator that they are not comfortable at home. Seek professional assistance if domestic violence is experienced in the home.

If a child is in any danger or shows signs of wanting to run away, the trust’s social workers can intervene using the appropriate channels.

Parents are also urged to make use of their local police station as soon as their child goes missing and complete a SAP55A form.

Caregivers can also get in touch with organisations such as non-profit organisation, Missing Children South Africa, to report a missing child.

Details: ncvtprojects@iafrica.com, www.missingchildren.org.za

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