‘Happy Child – Healthy Nation’ – High tea at Newcastle Club

Barry Rai and his daughter, Charlene, will be hosting a high tea at Newcastle Club on Wednesday, December 10, from 3pm. The purpose of the event will be to create awareness about child abuse.

There will be fun and games with great prizes to be won. One of the prizes is a holiday getaway. Tickets for the event are available at a cost of R100 per person and all funds raised will go towards purchasing food hampers for less fortunate families this Christmas.

Meeting with members of Child Welfare, Chamber of Commerce and other members of the community on Tuesday evening at Newcastle Club, Mr Rai and Ms Rai shared the reason why they intended to create awareness.

“We are going through a difficult time as a country in regard to child abuse. When my daughter showed me the video clip of the Ugandan baby and the article about baby Jamie, it disturbed me a great deal,” said Mr Rai, who added that Charlene suggested they did something about it.

“I first said, how? We are kilometres away from where the incidents took place but she said it was here too,” Mr Rai explained.

Farieda Mia from Child Welfare confirmed that child abuse was a cause of concern in Newcastle and Mr and Ms Rai’s fears were not unfounded.

“I think if we adopt an attitude of our children instead of my child we will find that we won’t have the problem we are now posed with,” Ms Rai said.

Themed Happy Child, Healthy Nation, the community is encouraged to support the endeavour to ensure its success.

“We urge the community to take an active interest in the problems facing our children, loved ones and friends. Let’s not start when it is too late, let’s stand together against the problems we face,” Mr Rai concluded.

The function coincides with the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, an endeavour Child Welfare supports.