In light of National Child Protection Week, celebrated from Sunday 29 May to Sunday 5 June, local organisations have joined hands to create awareness around this dire need at local schools.
Role-players gathered at Cloetesville Primary School to launched the initiative on Monday (30 May). The community-wide anti-bullying programme is hosted by the Khula Development Group in collaboration with the provincial education department, StellCare Stellenbosch and Community Keepers.
The project is themed “Build or Break” and aims to raise awareness of various types of bullying as well as provide tips on how to deal with it.
“For many schools, learners returning to full-time schooling after almost two years of rotational school attendance has brought renewed challenges,” explained Bianca Petersen, communication manager for Khula Development.
“Learners are struggling to adapt to overcrowded classes and teachers are struggling with giving attention to these overcrowded classes. These factors lead to an increase of principals and teachers reporting behavioural challenges, especially bullying behaviour.”
The campaign’s target groups are primary school learners, teachers, parents and primary caregivers. The participating schools are Cloetesville, Ida’s Valley, Klapmuts, Pieter Langeveldt and Rietenbosch primary schools, as well as Lückhoff High School.
“In all the schools, the campaign includes a play addressing bullying with protocols on how to address it,” Petersen related. “Teachers are scheduled to present the topic and grade-specific content and activities to drive the theme and message further.”
Other initiatives set to run as part of National Child Protection Week include learners creating posters promoting anti-bullying and colouring worksheet competitions. “As a collaborative team, we are excited to gather in heart and mind to make sure one message goes out – we foster culture building, not breaking,” said Petersen.
