Eersterust police and Child protection hotline teach learners their rights
"The future looks bleak unless we do something to help our children."
Child protection hotline kicked off its Child Protection Week 2022 campaign in Eersterust with visits to three local schools recently.
Danie van Loggerenberg of the hotline said his organisation and other stakeholders – local radio station, PoortFM, Constable Lunay Alben of Eersterust SAPS – visited Prosperitus Secondary School, Norridge Park Primary School and PS Fourie Primary School.
He said this year’s focus was raising the awareness of the scourge of teenage pregnancy.
Van Loggerenberg said their educational talks at schools covered topics such as bullying, substance abuse, the dangers of social media, gangs, as well as respect for self and others.
“Bullying continues to be a major problem and in the worst scenarios lead to suicides,” he said.
“We have been working with children for 12 years, and the increase in bullying, abuse and suicides is alarming. Especially over the last 24 months.”
He said that parents, teachers and community members need to assist in stopping these social ills.
“The children of today, become the parents of tomorrow and so the future looks bleak,” he said.
“All children have a voice and we need to listen to those voices. In a world that seems a lot more uncertain since Covid-19 started, our children have been left even more behind and we need to stop it, before it is too late.
“The damage being done to our next generation will be visible for years to come and lets hope we do not see here what we see in American schools where mass murders take place.
“At the hotline, we continue to focus on child protection 365 days a year. We encourage children to reach out for help.”
He said the hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via SMS, WhatsApp or phone on 079 618 9966.
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