Kraaifontein community rallies for child safety during National Child Protection week
Kraaifontein police, community organisations and government departments joined forces on Friday, May 29, to launch National Child Protection Week with an awareness campaign aimed at promoting the safety and well-being of children.
Image: Sibulele Kasa
Kraaifontein police, community organisations and government departments joined forces on Friday, May 29, to launch National Child Protection Week with an awareness campaign aimed at promoting the safety and well-being of children.
The event, held in the Kraaifontein central business district, brought together representatives from the police, Child Welfare SA, the provincial Department of Social Development, healthcare providers and non-profit organisations.
Children participated in a range of activities, including colouring stations and a fingerprinting booklet activity.
National Child Protection Week is observed annually across South Africa to raise awareness of children's rights and the need to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation. This year's campaign runs from May 29 to June 5 under the theme: "Working together in ending violence against children."
Warrant Officer Louise Strydom, social crime prevention officer at Kraaifontein police station, said the awareness event was designed to draw attention to the importance of protecting children.
"All of us deal with children every day and they are our top vulnerable clients in our area. They need support, they need caring and they need love," she said.
A key feature of the event was the introduction of a child identification booklet containing personal information and distinguishing features of a child that could assist police if a child goes missing.
"We created a little booklet with personal information and outstanding characteristics where a child stands out from the crowd. Maybe there is a scar or a birthmark, or the child has got a blue and a brown eye. That stands out for us.
"So the booklet is going to stay at the early childhood development (ECD) centres, for us to eliminate the time delay in the process of looking for a minor child," she said.
Bianca Booysen, founder of Esihle Opportunities NPC, said the campaign provided an opportunity to educate both children and adults about children's rights and responsibilities.
"We can teach the children rights and responsibilities, so that they can be protected, and we can also educate and bring awareness to the communities so that we can create safe spaces for children," she said.
Booysen said children are affected by a range of social challenges, including poverty, crime and violence, making community awareness and collaboration essential.
Healthcare workers also participated in the campaign.
Sindey Brandt, clinic manager at Harmonie Clinic, said child health remains a priority for the City of Cape Town's health services.
"Our main focus is preventative care, which includes immunisation for children. We want the message to be out there that every child needs to be immunised and needs to access our facilities through the services that we provide, free of charge," she said.