A march against child abuse - Sligoville students, cops, CDA officials do awareness walk in community
Published:Sunday | May 29, 2016 | 12:00 AM
SLIGOVILLE, St Catherine:
In an effort to keep the focus on child abuse during Child Month, three schools in Sligoville participated in a one-mile walk from the Sligoville Police Station to the primary school last Friday.
The march, organised by Serena Smikle, Jamaica Labour Party councillor caretaker for the Sligoville division, also had participants representing the police force, the Child Development Agency, and the National Council on Drug Abuse.
"This is the second year of this march, and we are certainly meeting our objective of bringing awareness to the issue of child abuse. The children are learning fast that there are different kinds of abuse," Smikle said.
She said that not enough is being done to keep the focus on child abuse and to bring the level of awareness that is necessary to the issue.
"Children need to be aware of the fact that there are sexual, physical, verbal and substance abuse. They must develop the ability to recognise these abuses and be able to apply the skills necessary to cope," said Smikle.
Loris Brown, Child Development Agency officer, said that the community is still an important agent.
"We from the CDA are here to sensitise the community so they can recapture the traditional collective spirit of protecting our children. We want to see the return of the days when children safety will be the community's business," said Brown.
Principal of Sligoville Primary Kareem Watson said the event was important because it imparted basic skills to students, especially as it relates to drug abuse and violence against children.
"I am confident that each student will learn something from this exercise. The slogans provide basic education for the students," she told The Gleaner.