The Medical Research Council together with University of South Africa hosted several workshops on child safety, road safety and crime prevention strategies in the areas of Nomzamo and Broadlands Park in Strand, Cape Town during the month of August 2010.

The workshops, which were also supported by Eskom, Provincial Traffic Safety, the Fire Department in Strand and local Police was part of an educative programme focusing on safety and security of primary school children. Research has shown that there is quite a demand for child safety education amongst teachers, children and parents in the areas of Nomzamo and Broadlands Park.

The programme which catered for over 400 grade 1-3 pupils showed interesting interaction through teaching safety to children produced success which was tested after the event when learners were asked questions on what they learned about and how they will share the information they were told.

Mbali Madze, a grade-one pupil, said she learned about safety, she further adds that, “I learned that paraffin should be placed away from the reach of children and not be poured in a drink or a juice bottle.”

The initiative which is the brainchild of the Safety and Peace Promotion Research Unit (SAPPRU), of the MRC, tackled primary school children in hope that what they learned throughout these workshops have captured and will tell their parents and guardians at home on how to take precautions regarding the health of kids.

“The initiative is helpful and very educative some children do not know how to prevent such dangers regarding them when they might occur, this is a great platform to pass what they have learned to those who were not here and to the parents at home,” said Thandiwe Mani, a grade-two teacher at Silukhanyo Primary.

Read more on road safety tips for children: http://www.mrc.ac.za/public/childsafe.htm