Anashe Murombedzi, Form 3
Fatima Zahra (AS) College
It was an honour and a great opportunity that I was given as a young writer a few weeks ago when I was invited to a workshop by REPSSI at a local hotel in Zimbabwe. I was the youngest among journalists. Participants were local and from Zambia. The facilitator was from Namibia. I did not feel bored at all or out of place since I was the youngest. There were many people who treated me like a journalist and some did not know that I was sixteen.
We were told what REPSSI stands for. It is the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative and works for the well-being of children.
The mental aspect for children is usually not taken care of and the organisation does just that.
It critically analyses the leading approaches to prevention, treatment, care and support for children and adolescents affected by HIV, poverty, child marriage and violence in Africa.
They offer protection services and psycho-social support for children. REPSSI operates in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania. REPSSI also provides knowledge to children on their rights. We were informed that rights come with responsibilities.
We had many mind games and quizzes which kept us from dozing off.
I enjoyed a game in leading a blind person. In this game we were put in pairs. One had to close eyes and be led. My partner in the game was Walter Sebele from Bulawayo 24 who had his eyes closed.
As I had my eyes open I had to lead him upstairs to his seat in the conference room. On the way there were obstacles in the form of chairs and one could not remove these but negotiate a way past.
From this game I saw myself being responsible in taking care of someone who relied on me. This game taught me that children need elders to lead and support them to reach their potential as life was not a smooth journey.
Presentations were made which included Naume Kupe from Regional Inter Agency Task Team (RIATT) who presented on children being affected by HIV/AIDS. Lezert from Namibia who was a facilitator gave statistics on stories in the media that covered children.
Urban areas tended to have more stories on children than rural areas.
Mr Travor Chirimambowa from Million Memory Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) who had led in the lead game analysed the importance of taking care of the psycho social aspect for children.
- presented on how children’s issues were covered in the media.
- They were just given as a token or to just fill a gap. Tokenism sees children’s issues reported just as a gesture or when they are covered they are violated. Children are identified in some rape stories or even have pictures showing their faces.
- learned of ethics on reporting on children and that their rights have to be respected too. Media wants to sell stories and at times neglect child rights.
Psycho social issues include death of parents, divorce, displacement, stigma and not being accepted at school or even community. - learned that there are rights to protection and torture, abuse, child labour, sexual abuse and child trafficking.
- These are crimes on children and offenders can be jailed.
- I knew of rights to health, shelter and education but this workshop was an eye opener. I now know how to interview a child. I have to seek parental consent first. I was told that I have to inform the child and parents of possible outcomes of the story as they can be good or bad.
- The language used on children’s story has to be correct. We talk of rape survivors and must not open wounds by blaming rape on the survivor.
did not expect to get money so when I was given $45 for bus fare was sweetly surprised. - That is a lot of money.
- replaced my school shoes for next year and spoiled my sisters with the rest. We have to be heard not just seen.
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