#ChildProtectionWeek: Give children a safe space
Themed Let us all protect children during Covid-19 and beyond, the week is observed annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution and Children's Act of 2005.
MORE. This is how much listening and attention children should be constantly given according to Glynnis Dauth and Jo Gilain of the Bluff based Isiaiah 54 Children’s Sanctuary.
In commemoration of Child Protection Week, observed nationally from Sunday, 31 May to Sunday, 7 June, the pair reflected on some of the challenges children still face.
“I think that this is an important week, given that with children being at home with their abusers and being confined indoors and not being able to speak up and talk about it. Most of the time those abusers seem to be killing them and that to me has increased quite a lot,” Glynnis said.
Themed Let us all protect children during Covid-19 and beyond, the week is observed annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution and Children’s Act of 2005.
According to the government, support for Child Protection Week can be showcased through ensuring that the most vulnerable people in society do not suffer abuse by breaking the cycle of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children.
Glynnis said intervention needs to happen on a personal basis rather than just posting on social media as cases are unique and should be treated as such.
“When children talk, even if it might be a lie, there is more to the story and that could be their way of reaching out. We as adults are failing our children badly when we don’t listen to them.”
“And the sad part is that mothers depend on their abusive husbands or the husbands are unaware of their abusive wives, you don’t expect your family, friend or neighbour to be the ones abusing your child, because generally you trust them but you need to listen to the children,” she emphasised.
She said talking about her own experience of abuse to her children created a safe space for them to ask questions and refer some of their peers to her as a trusted adult.
“In the old days children were not allowed to talk about those things, we never had a safe space where we could go to and more people need to be that safe space for our children. There needs to be a place where they can refer each other to when they need help,” she added.
Jo said a week or a month is not enough awareness on the challenges children face.
“It should be 365 days a year. It’s so sad that in some communities child abuse can be ‘written off’ through paying damages. That money may help the family to a certain extent but it does not help the child, in fact, they are damaged for life. It’s not the body that suffers greatly but it’s the mind. If community leaders could speak out on this and ensure that those responsible are punished, it would make that place a safe space for children,” she said.
Isiaiah 54 is a large family with children who were abused, abandoned and HIV infected, between the ages of 0 to 18.
The home is not just a roof over their heads and food, it’s a big family where they belong, it is a house that they can call home.
They are at the mercy of public generosity to keep the children’s sanctuary going and donations are always welcome. For more information, call or WhatsApp Glynnis or Jo on 062-013-7955 or visit www.isiaiah54.org.
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