AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN · also equipped with skills and knowledge on children’s rights and responsibilities, child participation, leadership, motivational and public speaking

Children’s Committee Case Study

AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN

Acknowledgements Save the Children would like to acknowledge the outstanding

work undertaken by the Children’s Committees in our areas of operation and thank the committee members that

participated in this case study for making presentations, compiling portfolios of their work (which includes the artwork, poems and photographs in this publication), completing our survey and for sharing their stories and experiences with face-to-face interviews.

This case study is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Presidents Emergency Plan. The contents are the responsibility of Save the Children South Africa Programme and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

SOUTH AFRICANS AND AMERICANSIN PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

4 AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN 5AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN

VisionMission

Goal

Our vision is that every child in South Africa realise their right to survival, protection, development and participation.

Our mission is to achieve sustainable and positive change in the lives of children through working with children, communities, civil society organisations and the in South African Government.

The organisation’s goal is to contribute to building a protective and of enabling environment to provide quality, life and well-being for vulnerable children in South Africa.

Strategic Objectives

To ensure protection and care for vulnerable children without appropriate care.

To promote access to quality basic education in South Africa.

To improve the health and development of vulnerable children under five.

• We’re helping vulnerable children gain access to food, health care, social security grants, psycho-social support, shelter and education.

• We’re working directly with children and local communities to protect children’s rights and to keep children safe, in families, communities and in schools.

• We’re working with schools to strengthen their ability to provide

quality education, care and protection for all children, including girls and children with disabilities.

• We’re focusing on especially vulnerable children younger than 9 to address their education, health and development needs, calling for quality early childhood development and quality community interventions.

• We’re working with children to have their voices heard.

Save the Children is an international development agency that works in 120 countries around the world to improve children’s lives. Save the Children has been working in South Africa since 1997 helping local communities care for and protect vulnerable children living in poverty, orphans, children affected by HIV and AIDS and children who migrate. Children in South Africa are particularly vulnerable due to high levels of poverty, HIV/AIDS and unequal access to basic rights and services. Children’s access to health, education and protection is affected by their race, class, ethnicity, gender, age, disability and geographic location. Poor children (65.5%: 12 million out of 18 million1) are less likely to access quality education, health, housing, and be protected against violent crime. Save the Children in South Africa has assisted over 90 000 children to get access to protection, health and education since it started.

WHAT DOES SAVE THE CHILDREN DOIN SOUTH AFRICA?

Mehloding Primary School Children’s Committee.


Introduction One of the most important

features of Save the Children’s work is to make sure that

children’s voices are heard by involving children directly to speak out on the issues they face. The children’s committee model goes one step beyond child participation and not only provides a space for children to be heard but for children to act as agents of change for themselves and other children. Children’s committees are awakening the potential of individual children and bringing them together to become “giants” within communities championing children’s rights. “Children know what is happening around them and can see ways to improve their own lives, as well as those of others. Put simply, they are both the treasures we wish to protect and the resources we need to do so.” Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu2

“Children know what is happening around them and can see ways to improve their own lives, as well as those of others. Put simply, they are both the treasures we wish to protect and the resources we need to do so.”

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Between 2009 and 2011 Save the Children established a total of 140 Children’s Committees within schools and communities in the Free State and approximately 10 in Limpopo. Children’s Committees are school or community-based groups that started off as peer groups or child participation forums, places where children could

come together to talk to each other about their problems, do homework and become more involved in after-school activities such as sports, drama, art and music. As groups met more regularly, the focus shifted from participation to the plight of vulnerable children within schools and communities and it took on a more formal structure with a serious commitment to address social issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS prevention and other community problems by supporting affected children. Today the children’s committees have evolved from peer groups and participation forums to agents of change for children where committees themselves are contributing to the achievement of the Save the Children South Africa Programme goal and objectives. What follows is a description of the

children’s committee model based on interviews with individual children and a comprehensive survey completed by the majority of children’s committees in the Free State. In conclusion the case study looks at the value of the model and the importance of taking the children’s committee model forward.

Objectives

The objectives of compiling a children’s committee case study were: to document success stories for

advocacy and communication purposes; and

to document the number, structure and location of the committees for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Thahameco. Children’s Committee c.c.


Data Collection: Children’s Committees in QwaQwa and Reitz in the Free State made

presentations to the team responsible for producing this booklet in September 2011. Each presentation was accompanied by comprehensive books compiled by each committee present at the workshop detailing their activities. After the presentations, a total of 10 in-depth interviews were held in September 2011 with members from Children’s Committees from QwaQwa and Reitz in the Free State (Tswelampele and Khotsong Primary Schools, Kgotsong, Mehloding, Boitsebelo and, Mphatlatatsane Intermediate Schools, Kgothalang, Shakgane, Ntogkamisa and Nthabiseng High Schools and Seotlong Secondary – Agriculture and Hotel School, Beacon School and Phofung Senior Secondary School, Kleinwater Farm School). Further Information was collected from 22 individual interviews with children in Fouriesburg, Rosendal, Paul Roux, Club View township and Lindley conducted by two Save the Children communication interns in 2009. Additional information was

Methodology and data collection Some of the Children’s Committees

were started back in 2006, but the majority were formed between

2009 and 2011. There are 140 children’s committees in the Free State 10 Children’s Committees in Limpopo. The Save the Children Child Participation facilitator based in the Free State, engages with children through regular meetings, workshops and camps, he received training on youth development and counselling and first worked closely with many of the children as a youth facilitator in school communities. During the meetings, camps and training workshops children are trained on peer group counselling by a social worker, and are also equipped with skills and knowledge on children’s rights and responsibilities, child participation, leadership, motivational and public speaking. These events bring children together to learn and share information and to create a safe space for children to discuss a range of topics and social issues which affect. These could be anything from poverty, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. Fun activities such as music, poetry, dance and group ice breakers help all children to participate in the proceedings. Many Children’s Committees have begun from these initial workshops or camps which normally involve children from a specific school community or ward.

Background

sourced from programme reports. A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation survey was sent to all 140 children’s committees in the Free State in October 2011 and 119 surveys were completed and returned for analysis. A total of five one on one interviews was conducted with community stakeholders including community organisations and government departments. Data was analysed by the team and contributions compiled into a case study by the Save the Children Advocacy and Communications Advisor. Tswelang-pele intermediate school.


Save the Children Child Participation Workshop• Save the Children engages

stakeholders that work with the children’s committees such as educators, police officers, social workers, community development workers, Integrated Development

Establishment of the Children’s Committee• Save the Children convenes an

informal community dialogue or discussion with voluntary groups of children from within a particular school or community known as Children’s Committee task teams. They begin the process by identifying the area/school/community where there is a crisis or where there are challenges that affect children.

• Save the Children then organises

a weekend/holiday programme/awareness campaign for children in the areas identified.

• During the programme Save the

Children selects children volunteers. • Volunteers then form a structure

known as a Children’s Committee. • Training is provided by Save the

Children that focuses on leadership, children’s rights, accountability, planning and reporting, peer counselling, communication, networking and child participation standards.

• The structure elects or votes for

members to form an executive committee according to the children’s abilities.

• The newly established Children’s

Committee develop plans and submits them to the Child

THE STEPS SAVE THE CHILDREN FOLLOW TO ESTAbLISH CHILDREN’S COMMITTEES

Camp Facilitation• Socio-economic challenges facing

the local community are identified by the Children’s Committee, such as HIV and AIDS, poverty, unemployment and access to basic services such as education and health care.

• A schedule and plan for the camp are jointly developed by the Children’s Committee, Save the Children staff and the stakeholders involved (such as the school management structures, teachers, principals and parents, local government counsellors, community development workers, local government leaders and business representatives).

Each camp is informed by a particular theme for example:

• Leadership: planning, communication, networking, information on Integrated Development Plans, and positive discipline.

• Child participation: children’s rights, accountability and advocacy

• HIV/AIDS: Peer counselling, conflict cycle

• Improving quality education: home-work support, referral mechanisms, games and location of the committees for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Participation facilitator at Save the Children.

• Save the Children offers technical

support to the Committees as well as some resources such as seeds, school uniforms, stationery, and where available small grants for specific activities.

• The Children’s Committees submit

monthly reports and magazines to Save the Children.

Plan (IDP) officers from local government and others on Child Participation and strengthens their understanding of child participation as well as their ability to work with children

• Secondly Children’s Committees

receive training.

Mphatlalatsane Intermediate School.

Moloi Sebongile Francisca, and Nomthandazo Alexia Malakoane, Clubview Children’s Committee.

“We get the information from the mentors and resources provided by Save the Children, but also from programmes on the television and radio. We enjoy taking part in workshops as it gives us the tools and knowledge to then work with children who need our help.” Moloi Sebongile Francisca, and Nomthandazo Alexia Malakoane, Clubview Children’s Committee.


Chi ldren's committeeC hildren’s committees are

voluntary associations made up of children that are either school or community based.

HOW DO CHILDREN’S COMMITTEES WORK? On average committees have between 50 to 80 members but the range is anywhere from 10 to 100. The majority of children’s committees have a secretariat or committee that are elected by the members annually. It consists of a chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary and treasurer or at least a chairperson and one other executive member. Most committees take a vote to decide what activities to undertake, some let the secretariat make decisions for the bigger group, others are guided by teachers or youth facilitators at the school where the children’s committee is based. by and large children’s committees meet on a regular basis at least once a week, some meet more often, two or three times per week and others meet daily. Children’s Committees are most often supported by teachers, principals and youth facilitators as well as Save the Children staff. Save the Children support the groups by

providing the initial inspiration and training, facilitating planning activities and programmes and providing feedback and follow up. They also provide resources where available for food parcels, school uniforms for vulnerable children and seed money for activities. Child participation is an integral part of what Save the Children sets out to achieve globally from a child right’s programming perspective. Save the Children consults with the committees on various projects and includes representatives from Children’s Committees in government engagements and events and Save the Children Regional and International consultations or workshops. Children’s Committees are also linked to Save the Children funded community Child Care Forums, as well as broader community structures like social workers from the Department of Social Development, the South African Police force, churches and local businesses to refer children for specific services or to raise funds to support activities.

Webster Khoza, Bethlehem Children’s Committee.

“It is an organisation that has been established for school learners, coming together with solutions towards problems that learners and children encounter. It also comes up with strategies to meet the needs of the communities. We help disadvantaged children to realise that what we can do and achieve is what they can also do and achieve. We also instil leadership and peer counselling on mental, emotional and physical challenges to all persons in our institution.” Seotlong Agricultural and Hotel School Children’s Committee, Free State.

“Everybody has been assigned a role, such as secretary, deputy, sports or special events organiser.” Webster Khoza, Bethlehem Children’s Committee Member Free State.


What do children’s committees do? Children’s committees are involved in a wide variety of activities ranging from more internal, participatory or recreational after school activities or peer group activities within the committees to activities that benefit children externally or outside of the group.

From the interviews it appears that Children’s committees function on different levels:

• Participation within committees / activity centred clubs.

• Peer support groups. • Events and activities targeted at

the community to benefit children outside of the committees.

How children participate through children’s committees, recreational and after school activities

Many of the children’s committees function as platforms for children’s participation in recreational or after school activities and take the form of activity centred clubs where children come together to do sports, art, music, dance, poetry or engage in cultural activities such as traditional games, singing or dance.

How chi ldren participate

“The group meets at the local school five times a week and they talk about things they have seen to decide on how to help.” Nthabeleng Ivy Matjalane, Rosendaal.

“We receive assistance from Save the Children, Child Care Forums, and our mentors who provide us with knowledge on peer counselling and leadership strategies. They also help us with addressing the issues of abuse if we cannot solve them ourselves. The police have given workshops to children on child abuse thus raising the awareness among children and their families that such a situation is not acceptable.” Mpho Makhotsa, Rosendaal.

“The Seotlong Children’s Committee, organised a talent show at our school. The main aim of the talent show was to ignite the sense of showing off the learner’s abilities and talents of Seotlong’s school learners and also to give them chance to unwind before the examinations. Our greatest success is that we have managed to do everything that was on our agenda and the important one was that we have a beauty contest and battle of the DJs. The winners of that contest have been given their presents. The main achievement is that we managed to make R2 050.00 with the money that we got from the event, we bought school uniforms for some of the disadvantaged learners.” Seotlong Agriculture and Hotel School.

“We feel more part of the school because of the committee. The Children’s Committee has made a positive difference in the school and has changed behaviours and improved attitudes and friendships have formed.” Moloi Tshepiso and Mofokeng Maposeka Kleinwater Children’s Committee.

Sport

“Some of the activities are sports related: soccer, netball, drummies, cheers.” Paulinah Molaba, Shakhane Children’s Committee Free State.

“The group decided to meet every Friday and play games with orphaned and vulnerable children. We taught them how to play indigenous games. Thanks to the help from Child Care Forum and Save the Children we received some balls that we now use for sports and games.” Mamolepe Mabesele, Paul Roux.

Moloi Tshepiso and Mofokeng Maposeka, Seotlong Agriculture and Hotel School.

Mamolepe Mabesele, Paul Roux.

Talent Show


SECOND PLACE

“We thought we as children could learn more about our culture, that is why we organised the event. We ask our teachers and learners to wear different traditional clothes so that

Bongiwe Gambu, from the Clubview Children’s Committee is a soft-spoken talented young girl, who sings like an angel. Bongiwe believes that music can change a person in many ways: “I can relate to teenagers who are doing bad things. I know they are not doing that because they are poor but mainly because they have so much free time.” Bongiwe says that before

FIRST PLACE

we can learn more about their culture and we as children wear traditional clothes. We choose the best dresser so we decided to give that person some prize.”

she joined the focus group she was always in self-doubt. When receiving compliments for her singing, Bongiwe would refuse to believe their sincerity. Now, things have changed. “If it wasn’t for this group I would still be doing bad things. The Focus Group helped me realise my potential and encouraged me to believe that my singing is a blessing to others,” Bongiwe says.

Music

Cultural Activities

Africa Day Celebration: Poelano Children’s Committee


THIRD PLACE

Counselling and support: How children support each other

Many of the children’s committees received training on peer group counselling from social workers arranged by Save the Children. Children’s committee members befriend each other, provide peer group counselling to each other and children outside of the committees, as well as motivational talks and homework support.

“We not only do physical activities with them but also offer mental counselling. We listen to them, help them with their homework and just offer a safe place where they can be who they are: children.” Webster Khoza, Bethlehem Children’s Committee Member Free State.

Save the Children has assisted the group with peer counselling training “He (Jackson. Mokoena, Save the Children Child Participation Facilitator) taught us how to counsel our peers and helped us realise that sometimes these youngster do not want to talk to their parents or teachers about their problems. Sometimes they just want to talk to

Youth day celebration: Poelano Children’s Committee

“In youth day we celebrated it very wisely because we can learn more about African history. We did many activities like dramas, dances and we even asked our teachers how it was like in the old days, so we learned so much.”

someone their age and that is where we can help.” Mahanke Ndaba, Club View and Mphahlalatsane Cluster.

“It’s really quite simple. We sit down and talk. They tell me about their issues and I share mine. Together we try and find solutions.” Ngcala Mamothepane.

According to Nthabeleng Ivy Matjalane 16 from Rosendal “there are big problems in our community and some children are dealing with HIV/AIDS, prostitution or abuse. We help children from 7–17 years old, we listen to their problems. If we cannot help, we direct them to professionals”, says Nthabeleng Ivy Matjalane, from Rosendal.

Mahanke Ndaba, Club View and Mphahlalatsane Cluster.

Thahameso Secondary School.

Peer group


Children’s committees support projects and activities targeting orphaned and vulnerable

children by identifying the most needy children and assisting with food, clothes, protection referrals. They also assist with fundraising for activities and advocate for services for children by sharing the information with local stakeholders including schools, local government officials and donors.

Clothing

Many of the children’s committees have clothing banks that either collect second hand clothes from learners or donations from community members. Some committees get donations for clothes from local community members or businesses or they actively raise funds to provide uniforms or clothes for needy children.

“The group provides children in need with shoes and blankets that they collect from the community. Often they donate their old clothes that no longer fit.” Mamolepe Mabesele, Paul Roux.

Drives to register children for birth certificates and care givers for identity documents

Several children’s committees have successfully approached the Department of Home Affairs in the communities to assist children to apply for birth certificates and adults caring for vulnerable children especially grandmothers to apply for identity documents so that they can apply for social security grants like the child support grant and the old age pension.

“The municipality (Nketoana) paid for 120 children who didn’t have identity documents and that was the initiative of the Children’s Committee.” Phinduzame School Children’s Committee.

“We ask the social workers to come and help learners who need birth certificates and ID book and they (Home Affairs) also came to help the villagers who need documents.” Kgotsong Intermediate Children’s Committee.

Hunger and Nutrition

The majority of Children’s Committees have vegetable gardens within their schools that receive seeds from Save the Children. The vegetables grown in the gardens are used to supplement the school feeding schemes and are distributed amongst the poorest learners and their families. Children’s Committee members bring extra lunch or food to share with those who have none. Committees raise funds with local businesses to supply food parcels to needy households. Save the Children has also supplied food parcels in the past to the most vulnerable households through the Child Care Forums with the assistance of the youth facilitators and children’s committees.

Food Gardens: Phofung “Young Generation” Children’s Committee

“The garden project helps the children and other community members with food parcels. We get the seed from Save the Children and then we use them at our school to plant the vegetables. The unemployed from the community and the school learners help with the planting. After all has been done and there are vegetables we give some of the vegetables to the community as food parcels to the disadvantaged. The children’s committee go to the garden to plough every Wednesday and Friday. We as the Children’s Committee could be very happy if this garden project could continue and carry on helping the disadvantaged in the future”.

“To identify which children need help, such as clothes, uniforms, blankets or food, we go from door to door, knock and ask. We then collect the data and decide which of these children are in emergency and need immediate assistance. If there is an issue we cannot deal with we pass it on to our mentors.” Webster Khosa Bethlehem Children’s Committee

“We received assistance form Child Care Forums and learnt how to identify orphaned and vulnerable children. We also decided on our priorities which include helping abused children, helping children from child headed households and children who are emotionally, physically and mentally abused.” Lerato Radebe.

HOME AFAIRS

Pro grammatic level : HOW CHILDREN’S COMMITTEES ARE ACTING AS AGENTS OF CHANGE FOR CHILDREN THROUGH PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES

Identifying vulnerable children


SeFatsa Tiisetso, Clubview Children’s Committee.

Feeding Scheme

“The feeding scheme is where children from poor families get food here at our school. The school has hired unemployed community members to cook for learners. The women cook for us and at lunch time we eat. This helps children who don’t have enough on their tables. This project has helped a lot of children from our school.” Phofung Children’s Committee.

“We make things to sell and organise fundraising events and sports competitions where we challenge other teams. In this way we can raise money to buy food and seeds for those who need it the most.” We collect clothes from the community, going from door to door and asking to donate the pieces of clothing people are no longer using”. SeFatsa Tiisetso, Clubview Children’s Committee.

“We as children must play an important part of being responsible to our school, by setting an example and empowering children to make projects and posters for school children to show that we are making an effort to change our school as the Children’s Committee we have to start by making sure that our school yard is clean at all times; ask our school mates to wear uniform properly and as well as that we have to ask learners to

Homework support: “Let us be pencils, not pens”

For Selepe Montle pictured. “When you write with a pen and make a mistake, it is hard to erase that mistake, because of the ink. When you write with a pencil, you can easily erase the error. We are all going to make mistakes. Therefore, let’s be pencils, not pens.” Selephe is part of a children’s committee focusing on homework support: “I help children who are dealing with much stress, whose parents might be fighting or who have bad conditions at home. So far we have helped forty learners to stabilise their grades and I see that with the rise in their marks grows their confidence and self-belief.”

Raisi ng funds

Funds are raised by Children’s Committees from donations collected from children’s

committee members (pocket money) teachers, community members, local business, money charged for entry to events (cultural days, sports activities, casual days), selling fruit or vegetables from food gardens, selling chickens, crafts and arts produced, recycling old glass, plastic, paper and cans and working with local churches and radio stations to illicit donations from the public and going door to door to collect food, blankets and old clothes.

Selepe Montle.

attend classes because education is the key to success and without education you are nothing, we as children’s committee we got to learn their strength and weaknesses, to be a leader is not about position it is about acting and who you are, if we are leaders it doesn’t mean you have to take advantages to other people we only have to show them the right way of how to become a better person.” Boitsebelo Children’s Committee.

Motivational talks to decrease school drop-out due to unwanted pregnancy, drug and alchohol abuse and failing

Empowering children


Social issuesChildren’s committees become

involved in or address social issues affecting their communities

in a number of ways, by raising awareness or providing information on particular topics or motivational talks, through direct action or involvement in community outreaches like helping young children in crèches, the disabled or the aged and by involving other stakeholders to provide guidance like the South African Police service on issues related to crime prevention or social workers on preventing or addressing abuse and violence.

Social issues: Poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, high rates of teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse and violence in communities.

HIV, HIV prevention and peer education

“We have organised several events so far. In September 2008, we planned a workshop to educate children about HIV/AIDS. We led activities and told children about the virus and the disease. It took place in a special community centre and we had prepared posters, distribution materials and food. The event was successful and we had 300 children who attended the workshop.” Thabiso Mokebe and Moorosi Moeketsi, Thusanang Children’s cluster children’s committee.

Poverty

Funds are raised by the Children’s Committees from communities and events to assist with food and clothing for the most vulnerable, motivational talks on the importance of education and staying in school to rise above poverty.

“The committee uses the local radio station to ask for clothes and blankets donations.” David Ndoda, Tumahole Children’s Committee.

David Ndoda, Tumahole Children’s Committee.

Boitsebelo intermediate school.

The McCormick’s and Save’s Matching Funds Initiative by Jackson Mokoena (Save the Children’s Child Participation Facilitator)

Ten through various activities, ranging from fun activities such as talent shows, fashion shows, selling food and snacks at entrepreneurship events at schools to innovative ideas such as ‘casual days’ where learners pay to wear casual clothes on a Friday and organising meals for children during world cup activities.

This initiative exceeded all our expectations and although it was aimed to only kick-start fundraising initiatives in Children’s Committees on a small scale, it inspired five children’s committees to raise more than R5 000.00 each, with the highest being Witsieshoek Primary school, who raised R8 400.00. Even the lowest amount raised by Phahameng children’s committee of R600.00 was a significant effort and achievement. The average funds raised per participating children’s committee was R3 400.00.

In 2010 many of the Children’s Committees were visited by Sophie and Roger Mc Cormick. The couple were so impressed with the activities that the Children’s Committees were undertaking that they agreed to provide seed funding for ongoing activities. The aim was to incentivise Children’s Committees to really think about innovative ways they themselves could raise funds for vulnerable children by matching the funds they raised. Not only did children come up with new and innovative ways to raise funds, they also realised that they could do something themselves and make a difference. This also made children realise that raising funds is not as easy as it seems. Poverty is not the biggest enemy children face in their communities – it is the belief that they cannot do anything about, it that’s the real enemy. In total the children succeeded in raising R145 896.


Crime Community Policing Forum

“We have great connection with the committee. We work together with the South African Police Service and their social services. If the children need additional help we cannot give we direct them to these professionals for counselling.” David Ndoda, Tumahole Children’s Committee.

Community Outreach

Children’s committees go out into the community to assist vulnerable households. Assistance can take many forms from providing groceries or food parcels to cleaning houses or washing dishes for the elderly and infirm.

Aged

“Her heart was too happy and she almost cried and I almost cried too.” Bongani Hatla from the Mehloding Children’s Committee on helping a Granny in the community by cleaning her house and washing the dishes.

“We recently helped an old woman who lives alone. The house she inhabits is small, dirty and even hazardous to her health, thus we cleaned it and also sent her some food.” Relebohile Makhanya, Bethlehem Children’s Committee.

Disability

“The Fouriesburg Children’s Committee works to provide for vulnerable and orphaned children. We are also one of a few children’s committees with disabled children as members,” says Relebohile, who is the public relations officer of the group. “Their talents range from needlework and woodwork to shoemaking among other things. It is important to make these children feel welcomed because they are not different. They might be disabled but they are not unable.” Relebohile Makhanya, Bethlehem Children’s Committee.

Sexual abuse and violence

“One of the children’s committee members managed to identify a learner aged 12 years old from one of the primary schools in our area who was raped by her Father. The committee member told the Youth Facilitator about the girls’ situation. The matter was then referred to the local police station and also the Free State Care in Action social workers who dealt with the case successfully. Our youth facilitators then went for a follow up and were told that the girl was still receiving help.” Falesizwe Secondary School Children’s Committee.

Relebohile Makhanya, Bethlehem Children’s Committee.

ECD

Young Children aged 0 to 5

“We go to crèches to help the young ones nought to five. Children play with them and teach them the other activities. We give them (orphans) love and support to grow up with that crucial love inside them. We show the young ones to love and care for others.” Kgotsong Intermediate Children’s Committee.

“On the 18th of July 2011, Mandela Day, we actually spent our 67 minutes at the Lesedi Child Care Centre whereby we were helping with cleaning the yard, helping with feeding the kids and washing dishes. And we also read stories for kids and played with them. In this crèche there is one child who has disability and we spent most of our time with them. The owner of this crèche Mrs. Mofokeng told us that she does not know how to write but with 67 minutes we made a difference.” Khothaleng Intermediate School.

“This Children’s Committee also believes that a clean environment is a healthy environment. Mahanke says: “We can only benefit from keeping the environment clean. Picking up bottles, plastics and paper

Conserving the environment – recycling

and then taking them to recycling companies not only saves the nature, but it also brings us income that we can use to buy food for those in need.” Mahanke Ndaba, Club View and Mphahlalatsane Cluster.


Barriers to education

Participating i n advocacy

School drop-out

Children’s committees reported a number of reasons for school drop-outs including failing, sexual gender based violence, negative attitudes of teachers, corporal punishment, inability to buy uniforms, school shoes, books and stationary or pay for school fees. The Committees try to address some of these issues by providing motivational and leadership talks to inspire children to overcome poverty, on the importance of education, the consequences of teenage pregnancy and the dangers of alcohol and drug addiction. The Committees raise funds to provide uniforms, shoes, stationary and transport to children who drop out for those reasons and run homework support groups and additional classes for learners who are struggling academically.

In three schools in the district (Phaphama Primary; ZR Mahabane Primary and Ntebohiseng Primary Schools) the Children’s Committees raised funds to pay for the stipends of the youth Facilitators after the two-year funding from Save the Children came to an end in those particular schools. The children raised funds to continue with the stipends as they felt the youth facilitators were providing a valuable service to all children especially orphans and other particularly vulnerable learners. Phapala Children’s Committee has two Youth Facilitators receiving R1 000.00 a month; ZR Mahabane has three YFs receiving R1 500.00 a month (this committee shares half the cost of the youth facilitator per month with the school) and Ntebohiseng Primary School has one facilitator.

In another case the children’s committee from Khotsong Intermediate School lobbied decision makers from their local municipality to erect a new bridge to ensure children’s attendance at school. The bridge that is situated near their school is too low and when it rains

Addressing Corporal punishment in schools

“We are trying to deal with teachers who use corporal punishment when a child arrives to school late. Often teachers do not care or do not understand the reasons why the child comes late. We know that some children are the head of the household and he/she has to make sure his/her siblings have eaten, taken a bath and are ready for school before he/she can leave. Some children have to care for their sick parents; some have to work to ensure income for the family. There are many reasons why they arrive late, and the least thing they need is humiliation or punishment from the teacher. Therefore, we try and talk to teachers and explain the situations, encouraging them to be more supportive and forthcoming when encountering such a child.” Sipho Mahoa, Makwane Cluster, Clubview Children’s Committee Free State.

the water covers the bridge and the children cannot attend school, sometimes for days until the water level goes down. The children wrote letters to the CEO of Maluti A Phofong Water Division within the local municipality who has since agreed to come and investigate the issue.

The Phinduzame Intermediate School Children’s Committees in Reitz made presentations to the Nketoana Local Municipality which has resulted in the distribution of food parcels and payment for 120 learners’ applications for identity documents. The municipality allowed the children’s committee to make use of the town hall for their National Women’s Day celebration free of charge so that they could raise funds for toiletries for 12 needy learners. The Phinduzame Intermediate School and Kgotso Uxolo Secondary School Children’s Committees received training from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on the functioning of a children’s court as part of the legal procedure relating to the protection of children who have been abused. Children witnessed two cases and were able to ask questions.

Being the voice: a case study of child participation and advocacy


In Limpopo Children’s Committees members are involved in a radio station slot every Saturday on Musina FM called “Children’s Corner”. The content for the show is developed by children and children themselves present the content live on air. With support from the station manager and presenters children are assisted to produce and present a one hour weekly segment. “It is a show for children by children”. The show deals with a range of issues including Sexual

Value and impact

When Paulinah was young she had a very tough time: “My Mom and Aunt died when I was seven and my Dad died when I was ten and my cousin was five and so I had to drop out of school”. Her stepmother took all the family’s belongings after her father’s funeral and she and her cousin lived alone for three years. In 2006 her case was investigated by a social worker and she was taken in by SOS children’s village. Unfortunately she was separated from her cousin that she had been caring for who was taken in by an uncle but she had no choice because they had no food and no money for school fees.

In Grade 9 she came into contact with Save the Children through Jackson (Mokoena, the Save the Children Child Participation Facilitator) and joined a children’s committee. At first she was sceptical of the children’s committee and not that committed but then she realised: “I got so much help from these people, I began attending all the presentations and people were very supportive of my situation. I could finally speak and I created a platform for myself and I felt motivated. I am here to help others with the same situation I had and had lived in. I am sharing my story. Everyday I get that upliftment and I know I had an impact”, says Paulinah.

Paulinah Molaba (third from left), Shakhane Children’s Committee Free State.

How children are raising awareness on social issues through the local community radio stations and community campaigns in Limpopo

Gender-Based Violence, health and education issues affecting children. The Limpopo Children’s Committees have also been involved in door to door awareness campaigns driven by Save the Children dealing with community issues like sexual, gender based violence and how and where to receive support if you are victim of rape or violence. According to Tshepo Ncube the Musina FM Station Manager: “We really find this partnership valuable in terms of educating the community”.

From child-headed household to children’s champion: Paulinah’s story

What do the people say?

A number of one on one interviews were conducted with community stakeholders to ascertain the value of the children’s committees within communities.

Chi ldren's corner

32 AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN

“I think the children’s committees are of high value to the community for example the school and the community couldn’t solve the bridge problem (during heavy rains the bridge at the school becomes flooded and children which prevents a number of learners from attending) but the children’s committee could”. The community policing forum introduced themselves to the school because they were approached by the children’s committee. Social workers approached the School for urgent cases at the request of the Children’s Committee to ensure that a learner was removed from an abusive relationship. “The children’s committees also force the parents to become involved in schools.” Taetsane Manadio Elizabeth Principal Kgotsong Intermediate School, Free State.

The Children’s Committee helps the community a lot. Cases that we can’t get to or reach the committee helps. The Children’s Committee helps children get food, clothes and school uniforms. They help old people in the community get birth certificates and identity documents. The children’s committee went to the local ward councillor and requested that speed humps should be put around the location to stop more people dying from being run over, especially young children. Their voices were heard and the councillor fulfilled his promise. I think it’s important to involve children in community activities so that they can learn to help other people and be responsible.” Nondlela Maduna, Petsana Child Care Forum, Free State.

“Since I started interacting ... the Children’s Committee are functional ... the eagerness to learn. They want to touch everything in the community. They look for opportunities to help. The mayor and other community members held a meeting with the Children’s Committee. They were very impressive.” Chere Makhoba, Local Councillor and Chairperson of the Child Protection Forum in the Free State.

1. UNICEF South Africa. Strategic Moments of Reflection – Equity and Child Rights. 11 to 12 October 2010. Discussion Paper.

2. Jamieson L, Bray R, Viviers A, Lake L, Pendlebury S & Smith C (eds) (2011) South African Child Gauge 2010/2011. Cape Town: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town. P6.

ConclusionsA range of school and community

based child participation models are currently employed

in South Africa. Although their functions differ to some extent, they all aim to develop leadership, resilience and problem-solving skills. Examples include Soul Buddies and RADS clubs. Often the different clubs join Children’s Committees by providing a representative and organising joint activities. As such Children’s Committees often function as an umbrella club which includes many clubs within a community, as well as children serving on the school’s official Representative Council of Learners. Many Children’s Committees are school-based and can be seen as good practice related to both child participation and involving children in broader school and community issues. Children’s Committees should be utilised as a well functioning learner body and resource for influencing individual schools and the education system and could still be more closely aligned to the Learner Representative Councils (RPL) in schools with Grade 8 and higher. Evidence from successful Children Committees should be used to strengthen the performance of RCLs within the South African education system. RCLs are legislated for in terms of the South African Schools Act (SASA) and they are represented on

the School Governing Body. As such, they are expected to participate in the development of school policies and monitoring of their implementation.

The case studies in this publication demonstrate that important work is taking place with children and by children. This a valuable model not only for child participation in terms of involving children in productive school, recreational and peer group counselling activities that benefit them directly but also for empowering children to become involved in community activities that benefit other children. The model involves, inspires and empowers children and cultivates in children compassion for others and in a sense creates responsible citizens within communities. The Children’s Committee model is innovative, child-participatory, community-led and child responsive and is helping Save the Children to achieve programmatic goals.

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AWAKENING THE GIANT WITHIN · also equipped with skills and knowledge on children’s rights and responsibilities, child participation, leadership, motivational and public speaking