Photo Credit: Annie-Spratt-KBpIcWV6o2c-unsplash.jpg
On the 5th of March 2020, South Africans woke up to its first case of COVID-19[1], the global pandemic that many prior to this, had considered foreign. No one could have predicted the rapid local transmission that ensued, just a few weeks later, leaving the nation with over 1000 cases.
South African citizens now find themselves with an unexpected change to their lives, as life as they knew it pre-COVID-19 no longer exists. With this change comes an increasingly great concern over the mental wellbeing of parents and caregivers as they battle to deal with the undefined long-term effects of this disruptive virus, which has left them helpless, paranoid and fearful of possible job cuts.
“It is normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed during a crisis. However, it is in these times of uncertainty that children suffer the most as they become the direct recipients of adultâs frustrations, fears and anxieties that may render them susceptible to different forms of abuse. This is why it is crucial now more than ever to ensure parents have good and practical coping mechanisms to be mentally healthy and thereby exercise positive parenting”.
Making time during the lockdown to reconnect with children and address their fears and anxiety is of particular importance, primarily, as busy work schedules limit spending quality time with children. Made even more salient with the fact that 60% of children under the age of 18 have absent fathers[2].
Modelling good behavior for children is also crucial during this time, as children learn by watching, listening and imitating adults. This calls for parents to ensure they demonstrate a positive response to COVID-19, to help curb the drastic impact of the virus on children for generations to come.
“It is important to note that, despite of any living conditions, whether one lives in an affluent suburb or an overcrowded informal settlement, we all have a responsibility towards our childrenâs well-being. As the primary caregivers, parents have a duty to ensure their children see, feel and experience their love, which is the foundation to their holistic development. As children begin to receive more attention and love, the ripple effect in the long run could very well be a reduction in the number of children involved in destructive behaviors such as stabbings in schools, drugs, bullying and intimate relationships with older men”.
Through the Expanding Equality Initiative, the Graça Machel Trust will amplify the voices of children to ensure they are safe and protected.Â
[1] https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/first-case-coronavirus-reported-sa
[2] http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/hsrc-in-the-news/education-and-skills-development/flying-solo-without-crashing
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenâs rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Childrenâs Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsâ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trustâs goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a motherâs health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childâs life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.