I believe protecting our children is about creating environments where they are truly seen, heard, and valued.

As a country, we need a collective commitment to safeguarding- starting in our schools and communities, where children spend so much of their time. This means equipping educators and caregivers with the tools to recognize harm and take action, ensuring schools become places not just of learning, but also of mutual safety, respect, and care.

One of the biggest challenges we face is the growing violence in schools. Many learners have lost respect for the adults in their lives, and this shows in their abusive behaviour toward parents, teachers, and peers. But this didn’t happen overnight. Somewhere along the way, we failed them as a society- through neglect, abuse, and broken relationships. In their search for safety, they’ve often turned to peers from dysfunctional backgrounds, reinforcing cycles of harmful behaviour.

We need to break this cycle. It starts with us – adults – leading by example. By treating children with care, fairness, and consistency, we can begin to rebuild trust and show them a better way.

Dorothy Law Nolte wrote a beautiful poem called  “Children learn what they live; and Children live what they learn.” What are our examples they can model themselves on?

 Programmes like those of Champions for Change focus on empowering educators to create safe, nurturing spaces for children while also training staff to safeguard learners and themselves. This isn’t just about protecting kids – it’s about turning schools into environments that teach respect, foster healthy relationships, and ultimately reduce violence.

And we know it’s possible. We’ve seen success in other countries where safeguarding practices have transformed schools into places of peace and mutual respect. Surely, we can adapt and adjust these approaches to fit our own society and make a lasting impact here in South Africa. 

Protecting children isn’t just about their safety—it’s the foundation for building a future where communities thrive, and violence becomes the exception, not the norm.