As South Africa gears up to observe National Child Protection Week from May 29 to June 5, the urgent need to enhance awareness around children's rights comes into sharp focus.
The Santa Shoebox Project and other organisations are defending children's rights by emphasising the importance of safe, nurturing environments, highlighting Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres as crucial institutions as the first line of defence for the 1.7 million children they serve.
Deb Zelezniak, CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project, emphasises that ECD practitioners are not babysitters but trained professionals dedicated to safeguarding every child's right to survive, thrive, and reach their fullest potential.
“ECD practitioners provide daily nutritious meals - often the only food a child receives - which underscores their role beyond basic childcare. They create clean, safe spaces that protect children from harm and promote basic hygiene, all while delivering early learning that is foundational for future academic and life success.”
She details that one of the critical responsibilities of ECD practitioners is their ability to spot warning signs of abuse, neglect, and developmental delays before harm becomes irreparable.
“By identifying and supporting children at risk due to trauma, family instability, or health issues, ECD practitioners can initiate early intervention, drastically altering a child's life trajectory. Research tells us that such early support can effectively reverse the effects of deprivation, mend developmental gaps, and significantly reduce the need for costly remedial support later.”
Moreover, it is explained that ECD practitioners play an indispensable role in educating children about their rights. Zelezniak asserts that even the youngest learners need to comprehend the importance of being treated with dignity, feeling safe, and having the confidence to speak up when things go wrong.
“This Child Protection Week, we need to rethink how we perceive ECD centres, recognising them as critical pillars of our child protection system. Real, life-saving work is happening in these spaces, with blocks, crayons, and compassionate hands.”
Simultaneously, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has brought attention to a staggering crisis that looms over South Africa's children: hunger, malnutrition, and stunting.
Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer of Operations, stated that approximately 29% of children under the age of five are stunted due to malnutrition, while about 15% are experiencing hunger. The alarming findings, derived from a comprehensive research report submitted to NEDLAC’s Cost of Living Task Team, reveal a disturbing disparity - many children are not offered nutritious food, which perpetuates both hunger and malnourishment.
“A large portion of children in South Africa live in households that cannot afford the most basic nutrition and non-food essentials,” she said.
Keyter is pointing out that over a third of children below the food poverty line are food insecure, putting them at severe risk for malnourishment.
Saturday Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za