Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Lehae took to the streets on Tuesday, September 22, with teachers, children, and community members joining a march to call for an end to the killing of women and children. The march, which saw young children walking alongside their teachers, aimed to raise awareness about the devastating impact of violence on families. Organisers said the children are often among those who suffer the consequences when women are killed, particularly when the victims are mothers who play an important role in their lives.
The decision to involve children in the march was to send a strong message to the community that violence against women and children cannot be accepted. Gugulethu Tshabalala, a teacher at Emasesi Pre School Academy, said the ECD centres wanted the community to understand that the effects of violence extend beyond the victims themselves, with children often left to deal with the loss of mothers and other family members. The march was supported by members of Lenasia SAPS and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) Sector 4.
The march was part of a broader effort to challenge violence and support initiatives aimed at protecting women and children. Representing CPF Sector 4, Mr Hadebe thanked the organisers for taking the initiative and bringing the issue into the community. He called for greater action against the killings and urged residents to continue speaking out rather than remaining silent when violence affects their communities.
Hadebe expressed concern about the limited participation of men in marches and campaigns addressing GBV, saying fathers and brothers are often absent from these community actions. He stressed that men should also be part of efforts to challenge violence and support initiatives aimed at protecting women and children. The participation of the ECD centres highlighted the role that teachers play in the lives of young children, particularly when violence affects their families.
For the teachers and community members who took part, the march was an opportunity to teach children that violence should never be normalised while encouraging residents to stand together against GBV. With children at the centre of the march, the message from Lehae was directed at the entire community: women and children should be protected, families should not have to experience the pain of losing loved ones to violence, and residents must continue raising their voices against GBV.
The ECD centres' involvement in the march also underscored the importance of community-based initiatives in addressing GBV. Tshabalala said their message was a firm rejection of violence against women and children, calling on the community to ensure that such killings come to an end. The march was a call to action for the community to work together to prevent violence and protect women and children.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to ending GBV and protecting women and children. The ECD centres, community members, and CPF Sector 4 representatives emphasised the need for collective action to address the issue. Key stakeholders reiterated their dedication to creating a safer environment for women and children in Lehae.
Key points
- ECD centres in Lehae marched with children to raise awareness about the devastating impact of violence on families.
- The march aimed to send a strong message to the community that violence against women and children cannot be accepted.
- Community-based initiatives, such as the ECD centres' involvement, are crucial in addressing GBV and promoting a culture of protection and care for women and children.
