CHILDREN’S rights activists are having sleepless nights, fighting the abuse of kids.
Such abuse is rife in Peddie and Kenton-on-Sea, where quite a few cases have been reported.
In an attempt to bring back the dignity of girls, the organisation Sexual Violence Against Girls in Schools in South Africa has joined hands with Khula Children’s Rights Organisation in Peddie. The two organisations work closely with school governing bodies and teachers.
One of the activists, Petros Majola, told Daily Sun: “Khula is an implementing agent for Sexual Violence Against Girls in Schools in South Africa. We want to change the environment in which the schoolgirls live. We donated school uniforms to highlight they are children, not adults. Sometimes when they attend school wearing civilian clothes they are easily attacked.
“We identified Hamilton Primary School in Peddie as one of the beneficiaries of the uniforms. A number of boys and girls at the school come from poor backgrounds. The pupils were very happy as they started the week with new full uniforms.”
Petros said he was worried about the abuse of children.
“As we speak, about eight young girls between eight years and 12 years of age were allegedly sexually abused by old men in Kenton-on-Sea.
It is the same thing in Peddie – the young girls are sexually abused.
“We have a special programme which aims at addressing issues of sexual violence against girls in schools in South Africa. We will not give up. The project has been implemented in a number of provinces. It empowers communities, parents, teachers and pupils about issues of sexual violence against girls,” he said.
Project organiser Asivile Bhala expressed her gratitude on behalf of the school and also the community for the donation.
“This good gesture brought happiness to us as well as the children. At least it reminds us about the trust the two organisations have in us.”