Child Welfare takes to the streets of Mbombela to promote children’s rights

Child Welfare Nelspruit and some other stakeholders took to the streets on Tuesday June 4 in a peaceful walk to create awareness for the national Child Protection Week.
With the theme ‘Every conversation matters’, the participants paraded from The Square to Anderson Street, raising awareness of the need to protect children against abuse, exploitation, neglect and all forms of violence.

Child Welfare Nelspruit’s manager, Nomfundo Myeza, said the walk shone a light on the essential services offered by Child Welfare, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the support and protection they deserve.

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“Our message is clear. No child should ever be left without care or protection. By raising awareness and fostering a culture of collective responsibility, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.
“We want to emphasise that our services are open to everyone, without prejudice or limitation. We are here to support all children and families in need, offering alternative placements and comprehensive care options to ensure every child receives the love, attention and the protection they need. As social workers, we find ourselves in difficult situations where we have to remove children from dangerous and unsafe environments. Let us unite as a community to protect our children and build a bright future for generations to come,” Myeza said.

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The minister of social development, Lindiwe Zulu, launched Child Protection Week on May 19. She emphasised that alternative ways to protect children such as adoption, foster care and child care at youth centres have encouraged the provision of psychosocial support and therapeutic services that contribute to child protection. These alternatives address the issues that rendered the children in need of care and protection, thus minimising the negative impact of these issues in the children’s lives.

“South Africa has children who are orphaned due to various reasons like violent crime, gender-based violence, HIV/Aids and the Covid-19 global pandemic, which claimed the lives of many people across the world. On the other hand, some children are abandoned due to the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, which culminate into social multiple social ills, including unwanted pregnancy. It is in our hands to stop the cycle of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children,” Zulu said.