Preschool children march against abuse
The children marched from the community park next to Emthunzini in Mamelodi East to Rethabile community hall, spreading the message of children’s rights.
Early childhood development centres in Mamelodi held a child protection awareness walk on Friday.
The event was organised for 15 preschools in Mamelodi East by Kids First Forum.
Kids First Forum’s Kgomotso Molokomme said the awareness campaign was about teaching children their rights and about drugs, HIV/Aids and different kinds of abuse.
She said this was an annual event whereby the children in the foundation phase went out to the streets to raise their voices.
The children marched from the community park next to Emthunzini in Mamelodi East to Rethabile community hall, spreading the message of children’s rights.
“The event wants to teach children about their rights at an early age and where to report crimes,” said Molokomme.
Mamelodi West police spoke to the children about their safety.
The children were told to not accept gifts from strangers and always listen to their parents.
Molokomme said police told the children that many kids get lost at shopping malls and made them promise to always listen to their parents to avoid getting lost.
The police also warned against parents leaving their children under the supervision of another child or unsupervised.
The children were also taught about places to report abuse and people to trust.
Kate Kekana from Thandanani Drop Inn Centre told parents and children they supported Child Protection Month and stood against any form of abuse.
Kekana also told parents about the afternoon school care and the school holiday programmes at the centre.
The afternoon programme takes care of community children, helping them with schoolwork and feeding them while waiting for parents to come back from work.
“The school holiday programme is the same as the afternoon programme, but this time we have more children, and we take care of the children the whole day,” said Kekana.
The children are fed in the morning with breakfast and get a full meal for lunch and the programme keeps them busy, safe and off the streets.
The event also taught children about different types of drugs and how addicts behaved.
Molokomme encouraged children to love themselves, never do drugs and to help addicted friends.
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