Regularly here you meet children with burn marks or you hear stories of children that drowned or were knocked over by cars. We know of a child that drowned from falling in a puddle of rain water and a boy that fell into a well and died and a child that knocked over a pan of hot oil. Many times these accidents are preventable. Information can save lives!
Last Thursday and Friday, 44 teachers from PEPEs in this area came together so that Joao Paulo and myself could train the teachers to teach the parents of the children that go to PEPE. The themes that were included were good hygiene, safety at home, accidents, violence, and how to encourage and empower your child. At one point they had to draw the plan of their house and look to see if there was any way of improving safety and hygiene in their home.
There was a lot of discussion and my eyes were opened once again to such different ways of parenting. It was encouraging to hear people who recognise the importance of respecting children and fighting for their rights. On the other hand, there were concerns raised as to how children are nurtured at home and the great risks children have of being abused by family members and having no one that is brave enough to say ‘ENOUGH/CHEGA’. Sharing information and educating can rescue and save lives.
I give thanks to God for this opportunity and privilege to work with a team of people here to be able to pass on information that can help to save lives. Due to poverty the reality of preventing these sorts of accidents are difficult. For example people tend to cook outside as they don’t have a kitchen so there is more chance of a child getting burned if they aren’t supervised. There aren’t any pedestrian crossings (where the pedestrians have the right of way) so crossing the road is dangerous. However, while we were away the Chinese built some bridges over the main road to improve safety….. only you don’t actually see anyone climbing up and down the steps to get to the other side as to them it’s much more convenient to cross the road as they have always done….. Education and creating awareness of the dangers is the key to saving lives!
In the evaluation of these two days, everyone said they had learnt new things or become aware of some changes to be made in their own home, and they were enthusiastic to go back to their PEPE and teach the parents. I am enthusiastic to know that this vital information and teaching is happening and pray that God opens peoples hearts and minds to make changes in order to increase protection and safety in their homes for children who are vulnerable to so much. May lives be saved and changed through this training programme.
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