ACESS
Press Statement Youth Day - ACESS
is a national alliance of over 650 children’s sector organizations committed
to the realization of a comprehensive social security system for children
in 16
June marks the anniversary of the 28
Years later When
measured against Government’s commitment, the current education and
social security policies fail the youth of today. 14 to 18 year old
children remain outside the safety net of the child support grant. At
the same time, primary and secondary education is not accessible to
many of these young adults. School fee subsidies and exemptions are
available in theory. Financial pressure on schools translates into (unlawful)
pressure on poor children and their parents to pay fees which they cannot
afford. In addition, the cost of transport to school, the cost of school
uniforms and extra-curricula activities act as further barriers to education.
National education policy does not cater for the subsidization of these
additional costs. For those children lucky enough to attend school,
hunger is often a severe problem impeding performance. At least those
who receive the child support grant can partially address the question
of hunger through this support. Those who do not receive it are left
with the untenable choice of food or school, as articulated by a child
who participated in a research study into child labour
commissioned by Save the Children Sweden: I can go to school but at home people will still be hungry.
I’ll be hungry after school, my uniform will
still be dirty because of no soap. I might end up working again, at
first after school then when I need more money I might go there instead
of going to school. ACESS
calls on the Departments of Education, Social Security, Transport, Health,
and Water and Sanitation to work together in partnership to develop
a complimentary and comprehensive social security system that guarantees
the survival and development of all children, including young adults
between the ages of 14 and 18. Such a system must include the following:
A
cash grant for all poor children up to the age of 18; Access to quality
education for all children; Access to supplementary services necessary
to attend school, including subsidized transport and school uniforms;
Sufficient food; Access to basic essential services such as water and
sanitation; Access to health care. Contact: Patricia
Martin 083 3993879; Shirin Motala
083 7868844 A
number of ACESS’s member organisations will be commemorating Youth Day on
Contact: Vivienne on (021) 448 7312
·
Molo Songololo - Will
be continuing with their roadshow which started
on the day of the launch of the Child Protection Week. It has been touring
the Swartland area and will be at the Saxon Sea Civic Centre in
Atlantis at
·
Women on Farms Project – will be hosting a youth day programme
in Grabouw, |