Keeping local children safe and happy
Representatives from these stakeholders spent their day with children who are beneficiaries of the centre.
“A safe child is a happy child.”
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This was the message echoed by stakeholders last week when Momentum Insure, UNICEF South Africa and the National Department of Social Development visited the Klipspruit West Family Centre.
Representatives from these stakeholders spent their day with children who are beneficiaries of the centre.
They also volunteered their time to paint the walls on the centre, work on a vegetable garden and prepare a meal for the children.
The initiative was part of Momentum Insurer’s community outreach programme where they have partnered with UNICEF to adopt the centre as one of their Safe Parks.
The emphasis is on ensuring the safety of children and making sure that vulnerable children have a safe place to call home.
Brand Pretorius, CEO of Momentum Insure said the initiative is close to their hearts as it gives them an opportunity to plough back to communities and help develop future leaders.
As part of ploughing back to the community, they don’t want to just provide children with food but they also want to make sure that they are made to feel safe, hence the Safe Parks initiative.
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“Safety is a basic human need that lays the foundation for other needs and instils a sense of confidence in people that will enable them to embark on their journey towards success.
“Without that sense of safety, many communities would be restricted as there would be an element of fear to hinder them,” said Pretorius.
The need for such programmes which address the safety of children is always high in our communities due to the high rate of crime and GBV.
It is also the same need that speaks to the importance of public and private partnership in initiating projects such as Safe Parks.
The Klipspruit West Family Centre is a good testimony of what community organisations can achieve if supported by the public and private sector.
Brenda Makgatho gave a testimony of how the centre became her home after her parents passed away when she was still young.
Thanks to the Klipspruit West Family Centre which took her and her siblings in, she got educated and came back to work at the centre to help other children.
UNICEF Deputy Representative, Muriel Mafico said it is such stories that give hope and makes them want to do more to keep children safe.
“Every child has the right to be protected and kept safe from violence, abuse, and exploitation.
“Children are our future business leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators who will lead our communities and country to a more prosperous future,” she said.
“This partnership between Momentum and UNICEF will help to support and nurture children so that they can realise their full potential in life.”
Even though the event was about raising awareness about the safety of children, it was not short of entertainment and fun activities for the little ones.
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The team from Momentum Insure and UNICEF brought with them fun activities such as face paining, clowns, jumping castle and lots of gifts for the kids. There was also a celebrity guest appearance in the form of Terry Pheto.
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