HUMANSDROP – In recognition of Child Protection Month, leading into National Child Protection Week from 29 May to 5 June, the children of Rainbow Centre have stepped forward and used their voices to call for safety and an end to child abuse.

Over the past two weeks, the Centre intentionally created space for children to lead the message into the community.

Rainbow Centre, a programme of Victory4All, is based in Kruisfontein and serves children from low-income families, many of whom live with learning or physical disabilities. It was noted that children with disabilities are especially vulnerable to abuse, making it all the more important to equip them with the confidence, knowledge, and support systems needed to speak up and seek help.

Rainbow Centre shared that it implements the Child Protective Behaviours programme, which teaches that every child has the right to feel safe at all times. The programme equips children with practical tools to recognise unsafe situations, understand their rights, and confidently reach out to trusted adults. Through this, they learn about body awareness, consent, and the strength found in saying no.

As part of this initiative, children actively participated in creating posters and distributing them within the community. This hands-on approach moved beyond awareness; it placed children at the centre of advocacy. Their call was clear and unwavering: abuse against children must stop, and every child deserves to feel safe.

National Child Protection Week is commemorated annually in South Africa to raise awareness of children’s rights, as outlined in the Constitution and the Children’s Act. Led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with civil society organisations, the campaign calls on all South Africans to take shared responsibility in protecting children and breaking the cycle of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Protecting children is not only a social priority, it is also a constitutional duty.

The message is both urgent and hopeful: when children are empowered to speak, communities are called to listen and to act. Creating safer environments for children begins with recognising their voices as powerful, valid, and worthy of protection.

Community members are encouraged to seek help and support when needed. Locally they can contact Child Welfare SA in Humansdorp on 042 940 0612; the Department of Social Development’s 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre is available on 0800 428 428, or by dialling 1207867# from a mobile phone. Additional support services include Childline South Africa (116) and Child Welfare South Africa (0861 4 CHILD).

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