| Nov, 2006: CHILDREN’S DAY - A Day to Care |
This celebration is in accordance with Universal Children’s Day, which was instituted when the United Nations adopted the Declaration Of The Rights Of A Child on this day in 1959. Furthermore, we also recognise International Children’s Day, which is celebrated around the world on the 1st of June every year, and which had its origin in the World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1925. It is clear from all this that there is global recognition of the importance of honouring our children’s rights and needs, but what does that mean? Our children’s rights are enshrined in the South African Constitution. Section 28 of the Bill Of Rights is entitled ‘Children’ and spells out their basic rights. This section places particular emphasis on the importance of putting the child’s best interest first in every matter concerning the child. It is significant to note that rights do not go hand in hand with responsibilities. We cannot withhold rights because we do not agree with or approve of a child’s behaviour. Rights are inherent and are extended to all without exception. Of course, our children should be taught to be responsible and also to respect the rights of others. At the heart of children’s rights lies the truth that a child who grows up in an environment where his or her rights are protected and promoted, is likely to become an adult who respects the rights of others. Children have four basic needs that are so fundamental to their well-being that they form the basis of any Bill of Rights for children. In the first instance, children have a right to survival. This means that they have the right to life and to have their basic needs met, inasmuch as these concern food, shelter, safety and health care. In the second instance, children need to be protected from both physical and emotional injury or harm. Children are vulnerable and have no choice but to rely on adults to keep them safe. Tragically, we fail our children far too often in this respect, as South African children are still exposed to too much violence and abuse. Scars from these experiences are carried into adulthood and are likely to contribute to difficulties in becoming a productive member of society and forming healthy relationships. Thirdly, children need to grow up in an environment that supports and encourages their development. They need time and space to play, as much as they deserve to be stimulated to learn. Children need to be supported in the many different facets of their development, which encompasses physical, social, emotional and spiritual development. Lastly, children deserve a voice. It is through participation in decision-making and responsibilities in their family, school and community that children learn to become active and involved citizens of their country. By giving children a voice where appropriate, we teach them that every person counts and makes a difference. In reality, we still fall far short of meeting the basic needs of our children. Almost half of all South Africans (44%) are under the age of 18. With such a young general population, the challenge is indeed steep, but one to which we must rise in order to secure a brighter future for our country. Too many of our children live in poverty and are subjected to sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Almost 10% of children aged between 5 and 9 years spend about five hours per day on economic child labour activities. These are our children’s formative years, when they do most of their growing in terms of brain development and personality traits. These are the years when they should be happy and laughing, safe in the knowledge that they were born into a nation that cares. Let Children’s Day serve to remind us of our responsibilities as adults towards the precious lives of the children that have been placed in our care. Let us remember that it does not merely take a village to raise a child, but indeed an entire country. Children Every child has the right to –
Established in 2005, FlyCastaway offers fly anglers adventurous and often extreme flyfishing in the wild and underdeveloped areas of Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and various other remote destinations in the world. This unique flyfishing travel concept is aimed at intrepid individuals who are willing to go the extra mile in search of quality and adventurous flyfishing. The FlyCastaway team is comprised of eight professional guides that have fished extensively all over Africa, North America, Europe, Russia, Siberia, Eastern Europe and most of the atolls in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Keith Rose-Innes, Arno Matthee and Gerhard Laubscher are highly skilled guides that live for and by flyfishing, pushing the limits of both fish and fishermen. The FlyCastaway team also offers day guiding, and claim that a day with one of the FlyCastaway guides may take years off an angler’s flyfishing learning curve. The majority of the day-guiding venues used are located only a short distance from Johannesburg, and offer superb fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth yellowfish. FlyCastaway is committed to conservation, and as such goes to great lengths in order to preserve the ecosystem. FlyCastaway and Global Alliance are currently sponsoring a conservation project on large-scaled yellowfish in the Kruger National Park. The team handed over a cheque for R80 000 to the National Parks Board at their headquarters in Pretoria last month. As indicated by research, the distribution of large-scaled yellowfish is decreasing at an alarming rate. It is therefore important that the species be thoroughly researched, and their habitat requirements, breeding biology and food preferences be clearly understood if their survival is to be successful. According to one of the directors of FlyCastaway, Gerhard Laubscher, the negative impact that man has had on our natural resources is becoming increasingly important. As such, catch and release as well as conservation has become the highest priority of their guides and the fly anglers that fish with them on their trips. “Everyone realises that in order to preserve our resources we must have as little impact as possible on them,” says Laubscher. Methods such as barbless hook fishing, soft knotless nets and careful handling of live fish are implemented in order to adhere to this principle. With their cutting-edge techniques and immense experience, FlyCastaway commits to offering both local and international fly anglers the best guides, at the best fishing venues during the best times of the year. And it is not hard to believe their guarantee, which states, “If we take you there, rest assured that there will be fish” FlyCastaway challenges other corporate and travel companies to give something back to their environment. The team is constantly identifying projects that require funding, so do not hesitate to contact them about becoming involved in such ventures, For more information, visit the FlyCastaway website at www.flycastaway.com. From FlyCastaway director and guide, Date: June 2005 Date: September 2005 Date: March 2006 |
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