Masicorp is one of many education charities in South Africa taking Child Protection Week seriously and you should too; here’s why: All children have the right to a protected upbringing whereby they do not suffer abuse, violence, or neglect. For children, their first line of protection is their immediate family. Parents or guardians are primarily responsible for creating a safe home environment.

Outside of this safe area – a child learns to integrate into the world, i.e., via schools and communities, which are responsible for creating a safe and trusted network that a child can depend upon. Education charities in South Africa like Masicorp who actively participate in the community and run educares in Masiphumelele understand the importance of early childhood development and that is why we start teaching children about their rights at preschool level.

Read all About It

Child Protection Week started on the 30^th of May and runs up until the 6^th of June 2021. This annual commemoration in South Africa serves to raise awareness of the rights of children as outlined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. It calls on all South Africans – young and old to take a stand in society to ensure that the most vulnerable do not suffer abuse or neglect. Do your bit for Child Protection Week in South Africa – wear your green ribbon and be a part of one voice that speaks for those who can’t. Find out more about this campaign on the South African Government’s website.

“I have personally seen the effects of gender-based violence on a child. The fact that some children living in Masi have never had a safe space makes them lash out and react differently to children who have had that right. By managing these situations with the help of parents and education charities in South Africa as well as private institutions, we can break the cycle and restore a child’s confidence in the world around them.”

– Doiline Maisiri, Principal of Chasmay Educare. (Master’s Degree in Social Work)

Sadly, safe homes and communities are not a reality for many children in South Africa. This is especially true for children who live in disadvantaged communities like Masiphumelele, where children are often exposed to violence, crime, or abuse. This, coupled with other challenges such as high unemployment rates result in parents lacking sufficient finances to put food on the table daily. All of this hinders a child’s ability, stunting their growth and development – perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Education charities in South Africa like Masicorp are fighting for children because we understand the importance of childhood development and the need for a safe and stable grounding from early on in life.

Giving the Voiceless a Voice

By equipping children with the tools and knowledge to safeguard themselves in an array of situations we are promoting Child Protection Week in our educares so that children can grow up with a voice. The goal is to give children enough knowledge so they can communicate with the structures in place to create a safe environment not only for themselves – but for their peers as well.

Doiline Maisiri, Principal at Chasmay Educare spoke with us about what the children would be learning about during Child Protection Week. The topics covered will provide children with a toolbox that will allow them to make use of every safe avenue available to them should they require it.

The curriculum for the week is set to include children’s rights and their responsibilities, protective behaviour, identifying safe and unsafe strangers, bullying, GBV (Gender-Based Violence) and how to say no with confidence. It is an ongoing curriculum and the teachers at Masicorp’s Educares will revise the material throughout the year to ensure children retain these crucial skills.

The importance of early childhood development education cannot be overlooked as it forms the core of an adult’s character traits. Education charities in South Africa like Masicorp work in the community for the people living here. Our focus is pinpointed, and this allows our work to have a lasting impact that is measurable. If you understand the importance of early childhood development and if you would like to support our work in the community of Masiphumelele donate now and empower people with the most powerful weapon of all – education. Sign up for our blog here and receive the latest news from Masiphumelele.