SABCOHA and children's sector meet to forge closer ties Print E-mail
SABCOHA and South African children's groups held a round-table discussion on 27 July to indentify high-level objectives to increase co-operation among both sectors, writes Les Tilley.

Participants engaged in a debate about "distilling a set of value-driven principles to underpin private sector/children sector co-operation" and to construct a framework to facilitate delivery on still-to-be defined objectives.

SABCOHA has engaged with many different sectors, such as sex workers and traditional leaders, to join forces and improve dialogue in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and TB.

Brad Mears, SABCOHA CEO, said: "It is a given that different sectors of South African society cannot operate alone. We need more dialogue and the children's sector is currently quite fragmented.

"We are meeting to put together a structure for a relationship and to map the way forward.  Change needs to take place at an institutional level and we need to see children as a developmental issue."

The meeting was facilitated by Charles Nupen. The consensus among attendees - who included Ruth Pooe  (National Department of Social Development); Joan van Niekerk (Childline SA); Cati Vawda (Children's Rights Centre), Teresa McNeill (Heartbeat); Charmaine Steyn (Heartbeat); Leseho Manala (Investec); Setlogane Manchidi (Investec); Simone Rawlings (Investec); Chantal Collet (Ma'Afrika Tikkun);  Karen Reader (NOAH); Julialynne Walker (Population Council); Kim Feinberg (Tomorrow Trust) - was that there is an urgent need for the private sector, government and children's NGOs to formalise the relationship. A common theme was the need to remain child-focussed and to have mutual respect for each other's responsibilities and perspectives.

Nupen summarised the discussion to "define the discourse". Points agreed by participants included:

  • A need to reframe the discourse
  • Focus not only on HIV infected or Aids orphans
  • All children are vulnerable
  • HIV/AIDS is not only a health issue
  • Children are a developmental issue
  • Strong social, economic and culturally driven
  • Treatment is important but there is a need to prioritise prevention

SABCOHA has been tasked with synthesising the list of objectives that were developed by participants which will be further discussed at a meeting to be held within two months. - Les Tilley for SABCOHA

Click here to view the minutes of the meeting: doc Childrens Workshop Minute (27jul09_2) 102.50 Kb