PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

SWAZILAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT AND AWARDS 23 rd -25 th APRIL 2012 KOPANONG HOTEL - JOHANNESBURG 365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AND EMPOWER WOMEN

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HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM?

Statistics of pregnancy of schoolgirls and sexual abuse attributed to teachers (of 618 abuse reported 370 were perpetrated by teachers-acc to the Ministry of Education Hotline Report 2008). Questionnaires Survey conducted ( 1 in 3 girls has been abused). Comments from local social network groups on facebook, twitter etc. Reports from HBCs, Community Police Reports, Police Reports & Media stories etc. Rampant Cultural and behavioral practices.- forced marriages. Local clichs , Adages etc- such as Girls are hot blooded beings and Younger sexual partners reduce likelihood of contracting HIV. PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

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IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS
Prevalence of HIV /AIDS and Child headed households and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs). There are less obvious forms of abuse which if untackled will be carried to subsequent generations e.g. Teacher-Learner relationships, Corporal punishment etc. Disintegration of family structures which are an integral part of society. Prevalence of unwanted babies and the transmission of STIs and HIV/AIDS. There have been fatalities of the girl child due to GBV in media headlines e.g. Primary school child forced to marry a 70 yr old man.

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HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM?

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS Commemoration of Special Days e.gDays of the African Child. Edutainment such as Dramas, Poetry, Music, Essay writing competitions, Debates etc. Formation of Junior Child Protection Committees in schools (funded by UNICEF). Dissemination of information on GBV Inter-school debates, Dialogues and community conversations. Use of social networks such as face book.

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WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT?

Time frame is spread over 5 years but it will be extended after review. PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

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WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY INVOLVED?
PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS All community members are involved e.g. Regional Education Officers (REO) teachers, students, parents etc. Partnerships with UNICEF, Schools AIDS Health Programme (SHAPE) , Save the Children , Community police and the Domestic Crimes Unit with the Piggs Peak Police have been developed. Both boys and Girls are equally involved.

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PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN
The following partnerships have been formed; Save the children- Trainings for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) on Legal Aid , Economic strengthening etc.
UNICEF- Workshops on Child protection for Junior Child Protection Committees in schools, community police etc. Domestic Crimes Unit (Piggs Peak Police Post)- Counseling. Ministry of Social Welfare- Provision of Psycho-Social Support (PSS). Red Cross Society- Training of Schools Peer Educators. Piggs Peak Town Council- Resources for hosting Special Days such as Day of the African Child, Womens Day etc.

SCHOOOLS

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RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE MOBILISED?

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

Guidance & Counseling by Domestic Crimes Unit at the Piggs Peak Police Post. Attractive Prizes, such as Cash, Trophies, Medals etc for eventual winners in arts competitions. Establishment of Schools as Centres of Care & Support programme in schools which is sponsored by UNICEF.

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CREATIVITY: ARE YOU USING ARTS, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO POPULARISE THE ISSUES?
PROJECTS:CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS Use of edutainment such as concerts in schools and communities to educate public. Debates on Face book. Inter-schools debates on Child Abuse , HIV, Intergenerational sexual relationships etc. Radio drama series on Sugar Daddies, Teacher-Learner relationships which are sponsored by Lusweti or Soul City etc. Promotional competitions where in0-school youth coin their own funky captions for promotional material e.g. Sugar daddies just like sugar lose their sweetness.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Snap survey questionnaires, oral interviews in the schools etc.

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

Dialogues, Community conversations which are representative of all age groups. Monthly reports submitted by School Health Clubs and Junior Child Protection Committees. Post-mortem meetings with community members ( parents).

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WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

Buy-in of parents , principals and teachers in child abuse forums especially in communities. Establishment of 3 Early Childhood Care and Development Centres (ECCD) and the recruitment of ECCD teachers by the town council. Formation of Social network groups to discuss topical issues such as child abuse, intergenerational relationships, HIV etc. Decrease in stigma & discrimination which is evident in exposure of household dirty linen as commonly put or the increase of reported child abuse cases. Establishment of forums in churches to discuss issues considered taboo. Recognition of unsung heroes by municipalities in communities which are instrumental in combating GBV/Child Abuse. Formation of Child Protection Committees in the Wards( commonly known as Lihlombe Lekukhalela, loosely translated as Shoulder to cry on.

PROJECTS:CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

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IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL TARGETS)

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS
T arget 4-11- Abolish the minority status of women

Target 14- Adopt and implement gender sensitive educational policies and programmes addressing gender stereotypes in education and GBV amongst others.

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SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION

PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS
Emphatically YES! It can be replicated but should be flexible to take into the different structures communities with their different characteristics.

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LESSONS LEARNED
PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS
Teacher-Learner relationships, Corporal punishment are still a less obvious form of abuse but gradually there is awareness on its effects. Child abuse or GBV messages are conveyed effectively and stimulate dialogue easily when portrayed through dramas. Students relate easily with the characters when they are depicted in that way. Involving parents, principals, teachers in the planning processes encourages their buy-in and a sense of responsibility and ownership of any initiative.

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PROJECTS: CHILD ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

ANY QUESTIONS?

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