BACKGROUND

As part of its 2007 youth ministers project, the SAYMP focuses on four distinct areas of Justice for All:  Maintenance awareness; Popularizing the Victim’s Charter; No violence against women and children and Creating Safe and Caring Schools.  Within this mandate the Organization was looking at ways to introduce a project that will positively impact the community on a large scale.

The management of the SAYMP was disturbed by the well-publicized accounts of child abuse and abductions in the country. 

“In South Africa alone, around 800-900 children are reported missing to law enforcement agencies each year; however, the actual figure is probably significantly higher. Similarly, the annual figure of 5,000 reported cases of rape and sexual assault of children is undoubtedly underestimated.  Child protection services estimate that in South Africa, one in three girls and one in five boys suffer sexual exploitation in one form or another. Furthermore, over 2,000 children are murdered each year in South Africa.”
– SACMEC

The SAYMP realizes that in order to contribute to the creation of safe and caring schools as well as one way to combat abuse against children is to create a project that will ensure prompt action where children go missing.  This has led to the birth of the SAYMP SAFEKIDz PROJECT.

DEFINITION

A SAYMP Safekidz ID package is distributed to kids in schools and communities where the SAYMP is active. 

The package comprises:

• A personalized ID card containing all the details of the child as well as thumb print;
• Fridge magnet for the parent
• Key ring with Id details
• ID Certificate for school/caregiver
• Safety information brochure

The SAYMP

• Provides the infrastructure to capture information for ID’s, create packages and distribute Safekidz ID’s to schools
• Keep a database of all subscribers to the project
• Link up with stakeholders such as the SAPS and others
• Maintain an updated website with links to stake-holders

ID INFORMATION

• Name and surname
• ID No
• Date of birth
• Name and address of relative or guardian
• Name and address of school
• Emergency detail such as allergies, doctor etc.
• Thumb print
• Address of DNA samples

OBJECTIVES

• To introduce and implement the SAFEKIDz Id project in as many schools possible within the next 6 months, streamlining the project into a sustainable viable ongoing entity of the SAYMP for the life of the organization.
• To reduce the number of kids disappearing and increase the number of kids found after abductions or disappearance.
• To contribute to the creation of a safer environment for kids in their communities
• To ensure a sustainable income for the SAYMP
• Target group:  Kids between 5 and 11 years old

FINANCING OF PROJECT

•  Investors from the corporate world, governmental departments and private donors will finance the project.
• Renewal kits/packages will be available at a set cost. 
• A SAFEKIDz kit costs R55.  Donors are requested to sponsor at least a number of children or a school.
• In return the SAYMP is prepared to display the sponsoring company on its web as well as on the id and other material of SAFEKIDz.

PRODUCT SUPPORT

• Team of SAYMP workers and volunteers
• Product provider
• Computer with data program
• Digital camera
• Administrative and logistical capacity
• Call center
• Links to SAPS and other stake-holders
• Website