New Child Protection Hotline launched

To commemorate National Children’s Day on 2 November, Toys for Africa and the Midrand Police Station launched a Child Protection Hotline.

Midrand police and the crew from Toys for Africa, a non-profit organisation which supplies children with educational toys and stationery, gave out pamphlets on safety from theft and the Child Protection Hotline to residents at San Ridge Shopping Centre in Midrand while educating them on both.

Founder and director for Toys for Africa, Danie van Loggerenberg said they decided to celebrate National Children’s Day by sharing information on the hotline as children are very close to their heart. “Toys for Africa as an organisation has helped over 430 odd thousand children to new educational toys and stationery and we also give them a positive message about life so they can recognise opportunity in the small things.

“Through that, we have been privileged enough to work on a child protection project with the SAPS and are telling the kids that they have no reason not to be safe in the sense that we say no to abuse, no to neglect and sexual exploitation, among other things.”

Van Loggerenberg explained that the hotline number is a safe, child-friendly and easily usable way that children, parents, and teachers can report any form of abuse against children. “The line is not a call line, it can only be used to send a WhatsApp or SMS and you are welcome to get a response from us. That same information provided will then be sent to the SAPS and the Department of Social Development.”

Toys for Africa was also joined by anti-bullying activist, Njabulo Zulu, who was had been affected by bullying. “I was bullied at school for my dark skin colour and complexion for about five years and then I decided that I do not want any other kid to go through what I had gone through. I, therefore, become a motivational speaker.

“I went from school to school, talking to other learners about bullying. I started getting a lot of messages which led to me deciding that I want to be an activist. Now I help other kids so they do not feel the pain that I went through.”

Zulu added that she was happy with the launch of the hotline. “Recently, before the hotline was launched, some kids were asking how they could get help and where. I did not have the answers which would be effective for those questions and such questions cannot be left unanswered.

“Now if they do ask, I am able to give them information about the hotline and how to use the hotline.”

To contact the child protection hotline for help, send a WhatsApp or SMS to  060 820 9875.

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https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/227525/transport-minister-fikile-mbalula-pleased-that-the-avi-afrique-summit-is-open-to-young-children-2/