17 Apr 2017

Women Against Rape (WAR) senior counsellor Mr Gabalape Tauejele has encouraged parents and different stakeholders to continue working together to form effective village child protection committees.

Speaking at the Parent-Child Communication workshop graduation ceremony in Maun last week, Mr Tauejele said child protection committees would facilitate effective community parenting and ensure a violence- free community.

He said the objective of the seven-week workshop was to provide parenting and communication skills to parents of both boys and girls to support them in accessing their rights.

“From the discussions we had in the community and in schools, we discovered that parents still find it difficult to openly communicate with children on matters of reproductive health and rights,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena of Boseja ward said gender-based violence was a global issue affecting the human kind.

“In our times, children were seen as guardians to their elders but nowadays children have turned to bad habits,” he said.

Kgosi Ramokwena further implored parents to refrain from exchanging harsh words especially in front of children.

One of the workshop graduates, Ms Metlha Diteko of Shashe ward praised WAR for conducting ‘such an educative and eye-opening’ workshop that taught them what parenting was.

Ms Diteko said parenting was a long journey that needed patience and understanding to ensure that children’s rights were not violated.

Another graduate, Mr Kerakilwe Nkape of Sedie ward advised parents to take their responsibilities seriously and avoid neglecting children .

Some 97 members of the community from five different wardsgraduated from the workshop. BOPA