Officers from the Parkview Police Station spent the day with a local Montessori school during Child Protection Week.
Every year, for one week, South Africans focus their energy on one of the most vulnerable yet amazing part of its community, children. This week is regarded as Child Protection Week and this year it took place between 2 and 9 June. To raise awareness about the initiative, Parkview police visited Teddy Bears Montessori in Emmarentia. Spokesperson for the station Captain Tintswalo Sibeko explained the purpose of their visit. “National Child Protection Week aims to raise awareness of the rights of children. The campaign is observed under the theme: Let us protect all children to move South Africa forward.”
On the day, Constable Xongani Mathye gave safety tips and police emergency numbers (such as 10111) to the children and explained to them when they should use the number. The children had a chance to listen to the police siren and to be in the police car. This built trust, showed them that the police are there to protect them at all times and removed fear so that children are able to communicate with the police.
Principal of the school, Preshanie Maharaj, said she was pleased with the visit. “Constable Sethle introduced herself and her team and did a show-and-tell of what they do and explained the many ways that they are here to help us and that there is no need to be afraid of the police unless you have done something wrong.”
Maharaj added that the children’s faces lit up when they sat in the back of the police van while its sirens and blue lights were on.
The children were also reminded to share the information they received with their parents and the rest of their families. Maharaj is hopeful that this visit, and similar police roadshows, will go a long way in dispelling any fears that children may have of police officers and stations. “We look forward to working alongside our police officers to encourage a positive relationship between our children, the community and them.”
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