Child Protection week commences with tree planting exercise

Child Protection Week commenced on Saturday with a tree planting exercise for children in State care and sends a powerful message of nurture and growth.

Child Protection Week is being observed from September 17-23. Children from the Sophia Plum Park Children’s Home were engaged in the tree planting exercise “Nurture with Nature – Plant a tree with a Child.”

“Every year we focus on children within this week and every year we have very distinctive activities focusing on some of the most critical areas that our country and its people need to pay attention to ensure our children are safe,” Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud said during remarks at the official launch of Child Protection Week.

Dr Persaud believes the symbolic act of planting a tree with a child opens up so many avenues for what she believes are key to make a difference in a child’s life.

“If together an adult and child can nurture a plant with watering it, planting it with the right soil and showering it will love, it will bring home to both the parent and child how necessary it is to have those some elements in a child’s life; it must be constant and it must be consistent,” Dr Persaud stated.

She urged parents and guardians to listen to their children noting that children must always be safe whether at home or school.

The tree planting activity on Saturday was also attended by members of the Diplomatic Corp who also assisted the children in planting trees.

The children’s names were placed on their trees and Dr Persaud assured that she will be visiting to check the growth.