Bush Radio was invited to broadcast from the Children's Summit, which took place on Thursday the 15th - 16th of October 2009 at the Goodhope Christian Centre in Ottery, Cape Town. The summit was hosted by the Western Cape Department of Social Development and, which according to the mission statement aimed to:
"develop and agree on a programme of action based on an interlocking system in which families, communities, formal and informal networks work together to restore families and make this a province which cares for and protects its children."
The theme was Together, Building Child and Family Friendly Communities, was upheld in all the keynote addresses.In particular Social Development MEC Dr. Ivan H. Meyer's address was poignant and spoke to the more practical elements involved in building our ideal communities.
However, it was the young people whose testimonies sealed the call to action.In highlighting the present situations in which children reside, these young people painted a grim picture of the current state of affairs and the future that this presented for them. By telling their stories and those of their peers, these young people highlighted the need for action to be taken not only by community leaders and organisations, but also by young people themselves.
by Nobukhosi Ngwenya
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