Child Protection Week: Why is it commemorated?
East Coast Radio caught up with the Founder and Project Manager at NPO SILA Foundation to learn more about why Child Protection Week is so important.
Every year, from 25 May to 1 June, South Africans commemorate Child Protection Week. To gain more perspective and learn more about the importance behind this week, East Coast Radio spoke with the Founder and Project Manager at Saka Ik'sasa Lethu After Care (SILA) Foundation, Nomathemba Sibiya.
Sibiya, who has been an activist advocating for the rights of children and youth for the past 11 years, spoke passionately about the significance of Child Protection Week.
The organisation deals with education of children and GBV activism. In addition, they provide daily meals for underprivileged children.
“We do prevention programmes in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu,” Sibiya shared.
What is Child Protection Week?
“For starters, for our organisation, child protection is every day. For this special week, this is when we emphasise and advocate for more events at different places. It’s integral to make sure children understand [that] being protected is part of their human rights,” Sibiya explained.
Speaking about this year’s theme, she explained that it’s ‘working together to end violence against children.’
“I love this year’s theme,” she said with passion.
What is the importance of Child Protection Week?
Sibiya explained that children need to understand that they have rights.
“Children don’t feel like it is a must for them to [be] protected. It’s like parents are doing them favours,” she explained, “We just want people to go back to that Ubuntu and understand that it takes a village to upbring [sic] a child. We have to work together to create a better future for ourselves and our children.”
Sibiya noted the importance of parents speaking to their children about their rights. She explained that it is of the utmost importance that parents explain to their children that it is their responsibility to follow through with what they have been provided with, be it an education or other opportunities.
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More about the SILA Foundation
The SILA foundation will officially be opening a children and youth care centre. Where they will be teaching children everything of importance in their communities, families and schools.
“That will be our daily topics at the peace centre. It will be launched on 19 June. We have been working with schools and communities for 11 years and only this year we will be opening our first Children and Youth Care Centre,” she explained.
Those in need can get in touch with the SILA Foundation on via phone call or WhatsApp on 074 875 3959. We are on social media, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram as SILA Foundation.
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