Pre-school children march for protection
“Children have the right to education, health and for their rights to be protected.” - Mbali Matsimane of Bana Pele Forum, organiser
Early childhood development centres in Mamelodi East held a Child Protection Month awareness walk on Friday.
The event was organised for 33 pre-schools in Mamelodi East by Bana Pele Forum, and took place at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi Campus.
Mbali Matsimane of Bana Pele Forum said the awareness campaign was about teaching children their rights and about drugs, HIV/Aids, and different kinds of abuse.
Matsimane said Child Protection Month is celebrated annually and the walk was about giving children an opportunity to exercise their rights.
The children marched around the community, carrying placards, spreading the message of children’s rights and demanding protection from the community.
Matsimane said the awareness walk was to remind the community to protect children at all times and not just during Child Protection Week or Month.
“The awareness campaign was an education programme as children played drama, [recited poems] and sang songs of children’s rights.
“The main aim was for children to know about their rights at an early age and where to report crimes,” said Matsimane.
Matsimane said it is important for children to know their rights.
“Children have the right to education, health and for their rights to be protected.”
The children were told not to accept gifts from strangers and to always listen to their parents.
Matsimne added that police warned them that many children get lost at shopping malls and made them promise to always listen to their parents to avoid getting lost.
She concluded by encouraging children to love themselves, never do drugs, and to help addicted friends.
ALSO READ: New by-law to tackle hijacked and abandoned buildings through court-appointed administrators
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel
