National Child Protection Week was marked by a number of activities and awareness drives across the country for the duration of 28 May to 4 June 2017. However, while the commemorative period may have officially come to an end, on the 28 May, a large crowd in Kleinmond publicly committed to the on-going care and protection of its children with the pledge, “Your Child is our Child – Everyday”.
The event-filled day kicked off with a march through the town’s CBD to Mthimkhulu Village where Theresa Els, Manager of Child Welfare Kleinmond, led a programme that included a warm welcoming address by Cllr Grant Cohen, an enlightening speech on children’s rights by SAPS Warrant Officer Raymond Odendaal, followed by Working on Fire (WOF) who provided insight into the organisation’s environmental and conservation efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of the community.
Other items of interest were a moving narration by Nonzame Mafanye that highlighted the Xhosa culture’s penchant to collectively raise a child as a village, a prize giving ceremony for the colour-in, poem and poster competitions held amongst primary school learners in the area and a skit by Child Welfare on the SAPS 10111 emergency number to call in the event of a crisis.
After encouraging attendance at the softball challenge between WOF and local club, Titans; as well as the street soccer tournament scheduled for later in the day, Cllr Fanie Krige concluded proceedings by thanking the organisers, sponsors, the community, local business partners and government agencies, Overstrand Municipality and all concerned for stepping up in support of the youth.