VIDEO: Kid’s home celebrates Mandela Day with lessons on rights, safety, self-worth
Children at a local haven were taught about safety, bullying and self-worth during an early Mandela Day visit from community stakeholders.
The East Rand Children’s Haven welcomed several stakeholders for an early Mandela Day celebration on July 16. The stakeholders from the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) and the Brakpan Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forum engaged the children.
EMS chaplains, the SAPS GBV Brigade, Tutela, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Brakpan spokesperson Advocate Dick Hattingh and many others helped make the day special by teaching the children about their value, rights and responsibilities in society.
The entrance fee for the day was a donation of toiletries, clothes and toys for the home. Uyasiphumelelisa representative Prudence Mabasa gave the first talk, titled ‘Who Am I?’, which focused on identity and self-worth. She showed the children a R100 note and asked what they could buy with it.
After they answered, she crumpled the note, stepped on it and threw dirty water on it before unfolding it again. She then asked if they could still use the note after all the damage and told them that, like the note, their value did not decrease because of what others do to them.
The EMPD taught the children basic road safety, using songs to help them remember the steps to protect themselves. The NPA taught them about the types of bullying and what to do if they are victims or witnesses.
They also learnt about consent and boundaries from Sister Kate Skosana of the Far East Rand Hospital. There were many speakers throughout the day, and between each session, the children were entertained with music and dance to keep them engaged.
