St Thomas Children’s Home and local schools commemorate Child Protection Month
Social worker, Mandisa Mkwanazi appealed to people to be advocates for children and uphold their rights.
In the spirit of promoting child welfare and safety, St Thomas Children’s Home in Sydenham organised a special event, in collaboration with local school principals, to commemorate Child Protection Month, raising awareness on child protection issues and building a stronger community dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of every child.
At the gathering, St Thomas Children’s Home manager, Marie-Therese Naidoo, called on those in attendance to celebrate the collective power and value of welfare. She asked those in education, health and safety as well as parents and the community to work together in protecting the physical, mental and emotional health of children.
“Parents and the community, you are not alone, reach out, work with your child’s school, the local clinic, the police and welfare. Together, we can protect children and give every child a healthy and safe childhood. COVID-19 taught us so much, let’s continue with safe health practices,” she said.
ALSO READ: Aryan Benevolent Home commemorates Child Protection Week
Child Protection Month, observed annually in June, offers an opportunity for communities and organisations to come together to address the challenges faced by children and advocate for their rights.
Under the theme of ‘Protecting children during COVID and beyond’, the event featured heartfelt discussions. The participants explored various aspects of child protection, including recognising signs of abuse, implementing preventive measures, and promoting emotional and mental well-being.
Social worker, Mandisa Mkwanazi appealed to people to be advocates for children and uphold their rights.
The principal of Rippon Primary, Koliwe Mbatha called for the strengthening of the relationship between children’s homes and schools, calling for homes to provide pupil profiles when they are enrolled in school to enable the educational institutions to best help children with challenges they might face.
