Child Participation Through The Establishment Of Committees Composed Of Children And Young Persons Through Community Theatre.

Child protection committees (CPC’s) composed of children and young persons were established.  The child protection committees were trained on child rights and related issues such as child sexual abuse.  Awareness was raised with these committees on the problems faced by OVC and how the CPC’s could contribute to the realisation and protection of the rights of OVC in their communities.  Prominent among the problems of OVC face in the communities were verbal abuse, property grabbing (after parents died), dropping out of school and forced early marriages.  The CPC’s were also trained on how to administer the stand OVC registration form designed by SAHRIT.  Registration of OVC using the stand form. 

Information gathered has since been recorded and is being analysed under the Special Programme for Social Scientist (SPSS).    This databank will serve as a benchmark for monitoring the well being and rights of OVC in the communities by both the community and SAHRIT.

To effectively raise awareness with communities on the need to protect the rights of OVC, two community theatre groups composed of children and young persons have since been established.  The groups give lively performances at the community functions such as agricultural shows and during the commemoration of World AIDS Day. 

As a result, cases of child sexual abuse, indecent assault and incest are being brought to the attention of community leaders.  The concept of community theatre also promotes child participation and is empowering to the child.  The children are given an opportunity to assert and claim their rights from the duty bearers through the performances that reflect violations perpetrated on the child.