CPUT students have bolstered efforts to keep youngsters safe in three Cape Flats neighbourhoods notorious for missing children.
BTech Public Relations Management (PRM) students partnered with Missing Children SA to implement school visits and workshops in Mitchells Plain, Retreat and Kahyelitsha.
The aim of the workshops was to create awareness of what to do if a child goes missing and to train not only the learners but also their parents about the best steps to take in case of an emergency.
Team leader Jamie-Lee Carelse says they targeted learners in grade seven because those students have influence over younger children in their schools and would be soon leaving to high school where the realities of drugs and human trafficking became more serious.
These workshops, which were conducted throughout the month of August, were conducted at Hazeldene, Delta and Isiphiwo Primary Schools.
During the sessions children were urged to report missing friends as soon as possible and shown videos which showed how easily kids can get snatched.
Grade Seven teacher from Isiphiwo Primary School in Khayelitsha Mr Nxasana, says his learners live in a dangerous community where the possibility of getting stolen is a reality.
“I know it will make a huge contribution to the grade seven learners as they embark on high school in 2017; they can easily fall victim of human trafficking and it can happen to anyone,” he says.
Missing Children South Africa (MCSA) was established in March 2007 in an effort to create awareness on the reality on the number of children who go missing in South Africa. According to figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau 2013, a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa.
Thus far, MCSA, together with the SAPS, has managed to safely bring home 77% of registered missing children.
The organisation runs purely on the generosity of sponsors and donors and is not funded by the government.
