Child Labour Awareness Campaign held
A non-profit organisation namely Brotherhood Performers held a Child Labour Awareness Campaign at the Nguni Hall in Vosloorus on June 2.
Brotherhood Performers, an arts organisation that does theatre productions, has workshops and raises awareness, held the campaign in line with Child Protection Week which started on May 28.
The organisation also deals with issues that affect communities such as crime, health issues, as well as abuse of women and children.
Sipho Munyai from Brotherhood Performers, who was the event co-ordinator as well, said they wanted to use the event to raise issues that children are facing.
“We focus mainly on child labour because we have seen children from our community becoming the breadwinners of their households at a young age. Parents deprive children of the opportunity to build their future by allowing them to do jobs that are too difficult for them and then not give them the opportunity to go to school. Other parents do so not knowing they are abusing their children. They think it’s the right thing to do because they grew up doing it,” said Munyai.
He said he wants the community to know that times have changed.
“What used to be good for our parents in the past is no longer good for young children today. There are things that our parents were doing and there was nothing wrong with doing those things. If you do the same things to these children nowadays it is wrong and is regarded as abuse,” Munyai said.
Parents and children from Vosloorus and the surrounding areas attended in their numbers.
Children and the youth from the township performed poetry, dance numbers and musical pieces.
There was also a band for children ranging between the ages of five and 16 that performed Afro-soul music.
The band left the crowd wanting more.
Munyai said the organisation will conduct theatre auditions on June 21 and 22.
“We invite young and upcoming artists and people who are interested in theatre plays to be part of the auditions. Those who will be selected will get a chance to tour and perform in Limpopo and Gauteng. They will get a stipend,” concludes Munyai.
He pleaded with the entire Kathorus community members to come together and protect children in their communities.
