Tshepang focuses on child protection
'We used this opportunity to outline the challenges the children are facing'
Child Protection Week was celebrated in a festive manner at the Tshepang Centre in Princess recently.
The event was organised by Susan Rammekwa, the founder of the Tshepang Programme for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, in an attempt to highlight some of the challenges the children and families in Princess and the surrounding areas are facing.
“We had a drumming performance by our staff members, as well as some of the children performing dance items, poetry readings and singing. All of these performances were in line with the theme of protecting our children, and the message we wanted to spread was simply that they should not live in fear, as we are here to help them,” Susan said.
The event was not only for the children being cared for through the Tshepang programme, but their family members and caregivers as well, and community members were also invited. “We cannot do what we do without the help and support of the community. That is why we also wanted them to spend the day with us,” she said.
Susan added that through the programme, orphaned and vulnerable children are offered care and support in the form of homework supervision, the provision of daily meals, life skills groups and recreational activities. She went on to say, “We also monitor their school performance through school visits and do home visits once a month, when we offer support to the parents and guardians of the children as well.”
According to Susan, their aim is to instill hope, in order for the children to understand that, despite their circumstances, they still have the potential and ability to reach their goals and aspirations. “We want to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and substance abuse by ensuring that more children within the community are empowered to learn and become professionals in future,” said Susan.
Besides the care and support for the children of the community, the programme also looks after the older members. “We have a soup kitchen on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where we provide the older community members with a hot meal.
We also have a bakery where we bake scones on a daily basis and sell them to the community, in an attempt to generate some extra income,” she said.
As a non-governmental organisation that receives the minimum support from government, any extra support is welcomed, and Susan said, “There are lot of needs we have to address and many challenges the children are facing, and we cannot do it on our own. Even if someone from the community come here to visit with the children and just talk with them a bit, that also aids in healing. It is not always just about money.”
She added that, with winter in full swing, they are in need of winter clothing and blankets.
For more information on what the centre’s needs are, contact Susan on 083 456 6993 or send an email to srammekwa@gmail.com.
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