SPARK Turffontein commemorated Child Protection Week on June 9 with a meaningful programme focused on educating scholars about their rights, personal safety, online safety and the importance of building safe, supportive environments for all children.

The day featured an interactive session led by Musa Mchunu, a social worker from Lifeline Johannesburg. She engaged learners in discussions on bullying and cyberbullying, trusted adults, stress and emotional management, child abuse and personal safety, as well as online safety and digital citizenship.

Members of the South African Police Service were also invited to support the school’s awareness efforts and to reinforce the importance of community involvement in protecting children.

As part of the programme, principal Tieho Mokoena and her team led scholars in a fun and meaningful activity called ‘Take care of your egg friend’.

Scholars were encouraged to boil an egg at home with the help of their parents or guardians, decorate it, and take responsibility for keeping it safe throughout the school day. The activity provided a simple but powerful way for scholars to understand what it means to care for and protect something vulnerable.

The exercise also aligned with SPARK Schools’ core values of service, kindness and responsibility, while reinforcing the message behind Child Protection Month. Through the hands-on activity, scholars were reminded of the importance of looking after one another, showing empathy and helping to create a safe and caring school environment.

“Child Protection Week gave us an important opportunity to teach our scholars that safety, kindness and responsibility start with each of us,” said Thobekani Dhlamini, SPARK Schools social worker.

“Through the discussions and the ‘Take care of your egg friend’ activity, our scholars were able to engage with serious topics in a way that was age-appropriate, practical and memorable. We want every child to know that they have the right to feel safe, supported and protected.”