Stakeholders meet over children’s safety

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Various government departments came together over dinner last week to determine how they could combine their efforts to have a greater impact on the safety of children in the Eden and Central Karoo District.

The "Child Protection Dinner" as it was called, was initiated and hosted by the district office of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) at Hawthorn Boutique Hotel on Wednesday evening, 21 June, as part of Child Protection Month.

It was a small group of people who came together from the Education Department, the Saps Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit (FCS), the George and Garden Route District municipalities, Social Development Department (DSD), Health and Wellness Department and Cultural Affairs and Sport Department.

Two NGO programmes focused on the youth, Planet Youth and YearBeyond, were also represented.

A speaker from each of these entities had the opportunity to concisely share what programmes and initiatives they have in place to benefit and protect children, and it was an eye-opener to hear about the many meaningful projects that are impacting on young lives.

Lynn le Grange, chief education specialist at the Education Department, said however that "the scope of the solution must be as big as the scope of the problem".

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The Child Protection Dinner was held at Hawthorn Boutique Hotel.

"That is why we are here today. I truly believe it will not stop here. We have to create opportunities for us to share with one another. I saw today we have so much more to say to one another and I hope tonight is just one of many networking evenings that we will have together to create that change for our society in Eden Central Karoo District."

District Director for Education Jewel Jonkers said it is key for his department to give every child a quality education, regardless of family history or poverty index.

"That means to give them the knowledge, and the skills and attitudes that will enable them to take their rightful place in society. Children are a special gift from God. We have the privilege and responsibility to care for them."

The delegates who attended the dinner.

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George Mayor Leon van Wyk quoted the latest Saps statistics for the last quarter of 2022 made available earlier this year, saying that more than 30 children per day suffer physical harm.

"Many, many of our children in the country are experiencing some form of harm. In that period 319 children were murdered, 488 survived attempted murder and more than 2 000 were recorded as victims of physical assault. These are only statistics that we are aware of that are recorded. That is quite frightening. I think we need to very consciously have a look at ourselves and look around us, asking what more can we do."

Each of the representatives had the chance to pledge their commitment to working towards the safety of children, confirming it with their fingerprint on a document.

From left are Eden and Central Karoo District Education Director Jewel Jonkers, Garden Route Deputy Mayor Adv Gert van Niekerk, chief education specialist at the Education Department Lynn le Grange and George Mayor Leon van Wyk.