‘Believe in Zero’ campaign aims to end violence against children in South Africa

PRETORIA, South Africa, 2 May 2012 – UNICEF is calling on all South Africans to unite behind the goal of reducing violence against children to zero.

To celebrate, share your best pregnancy stories with us (Go on – We all have them!) on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Doula4YOU/156584494398060 to put you in line to win an exclusive Patrick Wyatt Gift www.patrickwyatt.com.

Entries close mid-night 18th Feb 2012.

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Guest Speakers:

Sally Murray: Head of Commissioning for Children and Young People, NHS Berkshire.

Reading Link – Local Involvement network getting the

community involved in local health and social care decisions.

Tuesday

6th March 2012

11am-1pm

Royal Berkshire Conference Centre

Loddon Room

Madjeski Stadium

Reading RG2 0FL
click here for NHS Insights pdf 

Lentils - low in calories - high in nutrition!

We simply love the delicious taste of this easy to do veg dish. Particularly yummy during this cold winter spell….. Enjoy!

LENTIL ‘PIE’

INGREDIENTS
Oil 2 teasp
Carrots (diced) 200g prepared
Onions (chopped) 2 large
Garlic (crushed) 4 cloves
Red Lentils (washed) 200g
Veg. Stock 700 ml (1¼ pints) (2 stock cubes)
Tin Tomatoes 1 x 400g
Frozen Peas 60g
Tabasco Sauce 2 shakes
Soy Sauce 2 large dashes
Basil (dried) 2 teasp
Parsley (dried) 2 teasp

Potatoes 1 kg
Skimmed Milk 2 teasp
Salt & Pepper
Spread

Cook potatoes as you would for mash. When mashing add the milk, salt & pepper to taste.

Cook the carrots until just going soft. (About 5mins in microwave)

Heat the oil, add onion & fry until soft (about 10-15mins) adding the garlic & carrots after 5 mins.

Now add the washed lentils & stock to the onion mix. Bring to boil & simmer rapidly for 10 mins. Add the tin toms, peas, Tabasco sauce, soy sauce, basil, parsley, salt & pepper. Simmer for a further 10 mins.

Put onion mix into an ovenproof dish & cover with mash. Dot with spread.

Bake in oven till golden. About 25 mins. 200°.

P.S. Don’t forget to make enough for seconds!!

Today’s issues are a far cry from when I grew up when life was full of traditional values. But then the family unit was so different – the mainstream of parents stuck together for better or for worse and society as a whole, had a completely different outlook. Technology, Man on the Moon was not even on the horizon. And, the majority of children were able to be just that – children!

So where and when did this all change?
And, isn’t it time we went back to basics?
Resuscitate our traditional values and impart this knowledge to our young?

Knowing that who we are, who we will become and what we do, will impact on something, someone, somehow – positive interventions surely need to be introduced from birth, and, looking at our social climate today –soon!

From facilitating workshops and running programmes along with ECD practitioners and researchers in South African communities, we found that working closely with pregnant moms and young families, particularly the 0-4yr old age group any Early Childhood Development interventions had a positive long term effect on families and their communities. Studies have shown that the growing fetus is already sensitive to mom and his/her environment. It is also known that a child’s developmental skills are fully developed between the ages of 0-4 years old.
In the South African context, within our province of KwaZulu-Natal, we were able to consult with communities that were open to the idea of introducing Early Childhood Interventions. These project initiatives produced some amazing results.
Through creating synergy with relevant stakeholders and partnerships at local level(s) we were able to identify the needs within these communities and act on this.

Teaching Life Skills - Inkwali Creche, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Priority areas were targeted in collaboration with key role-players within these communities creating positive outcomes. These included life skills. Job creation and most importantly educating the parent(s), their children and ECD Centres. (Early Childhood Development Centres)

Here in the UK, the Government currently have Family Intervention Programmes (FIP). These programmes are directed at small groups of households targeting ‘Anti-social Behavior’ (ASB) – supposedly costing up to a staggering £30k [1*] per family! Towards the end of last year, newspapers reported that some Parents are given £100 vouchers to attend Parenting courses. Their aim is to focus on the ‘worst families in the UK to teach moral values. It’s a start, but these programmes are targeted at addressing the effect and not the cause.
Horrifyingly a former government adviser ‘ on Sure Start Centre’s has claimed that even the 2yr age group programmes have been unsuccessful! [3*]

Where have we failed our youth, vulnerable families and children?

Our UK teens have the highest pregnancy rate in Europe. Something is sadly lacking.
The world has changed so drastically with the ‘family unit’ disintegrating, increased number of single parent households, higher population, lack of resources, , displaced families, unemployment levels rising, economic stress and more.
Surely it makes sense that we should be addressing the overall psychosocial welfare of our children to make a visible effective difference?

Every individual has the right to reach their full potential.

I/we believe that no matter who, what, where – everyone deserves choices and opportunities – what the individual then does with his/her choice, is up to them!
That said – I personally have found that there is definitely a lack of knowledge and know-how out there.

So, how do we contribute to supporting such a process?

For me, in order to create a positive empowering environment, relevant role-players should identify the need(s) in consultation with our local communities.

By accessing these sorely needed resources, and, making them available, this will in turn strengthen not only the community but also give power to the individual to help uplift their own neighbourhood(s). By consolidating this vital information in collaboration with these communities, deprived or otherwise, this will assist in determining what is already in existence and support with identifying further needs. In so doing, this will to help create and establish an enabling environment by opening doors & accessing resources for future sustainability. What do you think?

In Zululand there is a saying: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ – lets make that our mission – after all, our children are not just our future BUT our today!

REFERENCES:
[1*] http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/fixing-families/6518377.article
[2*] http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/family/parenting/brits-try-vouchers-for-parenting-classes-1.1158721
[3*] http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Childcare_and_Early_Years/article/1099422/sure-start-failed-reach-under-twos-says-former-government-adviser/?DCMP=EMC-CONCYPNow%20Daily

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P S Don’t forget …
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It stands to reason that the more we understand the meaning of words, the better we can communicate with others.

The first words the child hears is from the mother and in the home.

So mums, the more you talk to your child, the more your child will learn to understand the world.

When your child is with you in the home how about describing what you are doing. For instance –

• “I am sweeping the dirt with the broom so that the room will be clean. “
• “I am peeling the potatoes. The skins I will throw away. Then I will put the potatoes in the pot with water and put the pot on the stove. The water gets hot and boils. See the steam coming from the pot? The potatoes will get soft from boiling in the water and then we can eat them”

Tell the child stories. Like when you went to a wedding or a funeral. Describe what happened and describe your feelings.

Ask your child to tell you a story of something that happened that was happy or sad or frightening. Talk with them about this experience and how they felt.

Tell them the history you know about your parents and grandparents. This will also develop their feeling of belonging.

And to end – I love the following quote below, because if a child firmly believes that he is truly loved he/she feels empowered to go out there and conquer the world!

“I got to grow up with a mother who taught me to believe in me.”
Antonio Villaraigosa