Nyanga police officers and local organisations held a Child Protection Week programme at New Eisleben High School in Crossroads on Tuesday 31 May to empower children.
The programme was launched on Monday 30 May and is expected to finish today (2 June).
Const Nandisa Mpengesi, of the Nyanga Police Station’s social crime prevention unit, described the programme as means to empower and educate children. She stated that they are visiting local primary schools and high schools.
“We have four sectors in our precinct. So, in a sector we are visiting one primary and one high school. By the end of this programme we would have visited eight schools,” she said.
According to Mpengesi, the programme is designed to educate the learners about their rights and responsibilities. “They have the right to go to school, but also have the right to obey the rules of the schools. We also encourage them to report any wrongdoing that they are suspecting to the police. And out of all, we want them to take anything that they learn here and go and spread it to their communities,” she stated, adding that some of the learners are coming from broken families and need mentors.
Speaking on behalf of Cesvi organisation Axola Qotyiwe said their aim is to encourage the learners to focus on their studies.
“We are encouraging the learners to focus on their books and stop committing crime. Joining gangsterism or smoking drugs won’t help. They must listen to their parents and teachers,” said Qotyiwe.
CESVI is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is assisting people with social issues and also fighting for human rights.
Teacher Thandi Maxhala described the programme as a great initiative. She cited that there are many learners at the school that are often out of order. “I like it because it instills discipline and respect, and also opens their minds to be able to differentiate between what is right or wrong,” said Maxhala.
She stated that some learners are misbehaving because of the peer pressure.
Grade 8 learner Nwabisa Qobo praised the programme saying that it would boost their self-esteem.
“We were encouraged to report anything that we feel is wrong to the nearest police station. Also we warned not to abuse our rights,” she said.