Hotline to safeguard children launched
HOUGHTON – These are the numbers to call to report any form of child abuse and neglect.
The area-specific Child Protection Hotline is gaining momentum in areas across Johannesburg.
The latest hotline was recently launched at King Edward VII Preparatory School in Houghton. Danie van Loggerenberg launched the Houghton and Rosebank Child Protection hotlines at the school on March 15.
The motive behind the hotlines first launched officially in 2019, is to help children access vital social services and fair justice systems, starting at birth.
They reach out to the most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities; girls and boys who have been placed in alternative care; children uprooted by conflict, poverty and disaster; or those who may become victims of child labour or trafficking, or recruited into armed groups.
Child protection systems prioritise children’s physical, mental, and psychosocial needs to safeguard their lives and futures.
Addressing the school assembly, Van Loggerenberg spoke about bullying and illustrated it using scenarios. He encouraged the children to band together and discourage bullies because they (bullies) were not so powerful against many ‘non-bullies’.
He also encouraged children to choose good role models rather than following ‘influencers’ on social media platforms who lack real-life social skills. Touching on child trafficking he said, “Strangers will show you kids money, sweets or puppies; do not speak to them! Do not share yours or your family’s details with a stranger because they will use that information against you.”
Van Loggerenberg also discouraged children from using substances that ‘change their bodies, their behaviour or way of thinking’ as they are non-beneficial, addictive and expensive.
Deputy headmistress at the school, Ruksana Khan said, “I think the presentation was really valuable in the sense that it was a message that was not hidden. It was quite blatant in a positive manner in that sense that it illustrated bullying, what makes a bully stronger and the kinds of behaviours that we need to avoid. It planted a lot of seeds for self-reflection that the boys internalised how they treat each other and how they think about their peers.”
Van Loggerenberg said the hotlines would be made available to the teachers and parents. When one calls the hotline, they receive counselling and when necessary, certain issues are escalated to the nearest police station.
Details: Houghton Child Protection Hotline 079 573 6475; Rosebank Child Protection Hotline 079 733 4541.
ALSO READ:
