The Greenwood Park CPF Sub Forum 2 hosted a successful workshop at Liberty Hall in Avoca recently, that was aimed at promoting partnership between schools, communities, law enforcement and the Department of Education.
The workshop, which was driven by the Youth Desk, was attended by DoE representatives, CPF Sub Forum 2 executive committee members, as well as several representatives from schools, local clinics, social services and faith-based organisations. The chairperson of Sub Forum 2, Charles Naidoo said it is important to work together to address the challenges within communities.
He said that in the recent past, the community has seen a drastic increase in incidents of physical violence at schools which needs to be urgently addressed as by the collective. “This seminar brings together all the relevant stakeholders, SCM, SAPS, CPF, community services and the youth to address this serious problem. Our objective is to ensure that we don’t have any form of violence or disruptions in our schools. We believe that this collaboration, and the programs that emanate from here will go a long way in reducing physical violence in schools,” said Naidoo.
The CPF Sub Forum 2 membership also recognised that communities need to ensure that young people are kept positively engaged, outside of school, in positive social activities that reduce the risk of them falling prey to drug abuse, gangsterism and other social ills.
The spokesperson of Sub Forum 2, Sacheev Bhogal, said: “Apart from street patrols and neighbourhood watch groups, we hold numerous other community outreach programmes. The CPF Sub Forum 2 recognises that we need to take a holistic, community-based approach to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful neighbourhood. The School Safety and Security Workshop is one among such programmes that we hope will have a positive impact on school safety.”
An outline of the Sub Forum’s strategy with regards to working with SAPS on clamping down on drug dealer networks was also addressed. Youth Desk coordinator, Ashlin Ellan said: “We see the programme as one of the mechanisms that we, as the community can use to address and resolve the related issues of drug abuse, drug dealing and physical violence in our schools. The programme concluded with a discussion among the principals from the various schools represented, in which the day’s discussions were further unpacked and dealt with. There was a renewed commitment by all the stakeholders to ensure that our schools remain centres of learning and excellence, driving the positive development of our youth.”
