Social development supports champions of change as part of the child protection week campaign
The ultimate goal of disability mainstreaming within the department is inclusion. As a starting point the department needs to understand the needs of persons with disabilities by engaging one on one and taking their challenges head on. Observing the Child Protection Week, the Kabokweni satellite office held a child protection awareness campaign at Kabokweni Community Hall.
Social workers invited local stakeholder to be part of the session to educate and inform children about their roles and how they can be assisted when they suffer abuse. Representatives from the Department of Health, SAPS, GRIP/ Thuthuzela and Love life shared their information in a question and answer sitting. Prior the information session, children took a walk around Kabokweni streets, chanting songs that speak against child abuse and with their plug cards written messages such as, I am child, Stop Child Abuse, Respect our rights. In attendance were children from the following Primary Schools; Mgwenyana, Sandzile, Mthonjeni, Ekuphileni, Khutsalani, Vulindlela, Ntokozweni, Hlayisani Children Centre, Kabokweni Albinism Support Group and other children who walked in from the surrounding areas at Kabokweni. Messages that were carried across; Statutory cases and Services offered by the Department, Role for SAPS, how to report cases and what must the victim do prior reporting a case also the role of Department of Health/ Nurses, role of GRIP and Lovelife. The session encouraged the children to report cases, and also to report if they suspect something is not right about their friends. Among other speakers there was Captain Shirly Nsimba and Ms Rebecca Mayile a Professional Nurse who encouraged the children to be open and seek help if they suffer abuse, children to report such either to the Police at the Police Station, Nurses at the clinic, Teachers, Neighbours and Social Workers. The slogan of the day was, “Ceba, ukhulume liqiniso” meaning, report and speak the truth.