What Is Poverty And How To Teach Your Child About It

Have you ever asked yourself the question – what is poverty and then tried to answer it in the simplest possible way?

The UN has an ambitious goal of ending poverty in all it’s forms, everywhere, by 2030.

This goal is one of 17 Sustainable Development goals set out by the UN in 2015. In last year, I made a commitment to read about, educate myself and teach my kids about the 17 Sustainable development goals or #SDG as set out by the United Nations and share what I learn right over here on the blog.

Initially, I wanted to focus on one goal per month and share our learning experiences right here. However, after I had a long heart to heart with A, we decided to rather focus on two or three goals a year and build a foundation of understanding in our kids.

A Sense of Entitlement amongst Kids

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen an article I shared recently. The article was about the importance of telling your kids you can’t afford a particular item. I believe our kids need to know we work exceptionally hard for our money. That nothing is handed to us on a silver platter. And in order for them to achieve the same things in life, they will need to adopt the same approach.

Naturally, I want my kids to be successful, hardworking, well-adjusted adults one day.

The last thing I want for my kids, is to battle financially!

That implies that I need them to understand what poverty is. I need them to know the different shapes of poverty. Most importantly, I need them to realise, choices have consequences.

The Adult Brainstorm

While I bounced my ideas off A, we came to the conclusion that there were two main things we wanted the boys to understand.

Firstly, we want them to understand that we need to work really hard for what we want in life.

Want to go to university? You better have good grades. Want to have a well paying job one day, one that allows you to look after a wife and kids? You better have a qualification that will put you in the right league for that job.

Secondly, we need them to understand – hard work doesn’t guarantee success and therefore, they need to help other people along the way.

The whole concept of teaching a man to fish comes to mind, doesn’t it? It really isn’t the intention and simply is not realistic for boys, age 7 and 13.

Having compassion towards the kids in your classroom is realistic. Being a positive example at school is a realistic goal for our boys.

The fact is, you have no idea what is happening in another child home after school or over weekends. The outer picture may be very different to the reality.

What is Poverty? The Kids Exercise!

Over the weekend we took the kids for a drive. The first stop was a relatively small (and safe) informal settlement or township. The second a poor suburb with dilapidated houses, and the last a rich suburb.

We gave them each a little printable and asked them to define poverty on the page.

Download the Printable and Use it with your Kids

What is PovertyDownload

Hoe Lyk ArmoedeDownload

1. The Informal Settlement

Naturally for my kids, the informal settlement was the ultimate picture of poverty! Yet, imagine their surprise when they saw an Audi A4, in nick condition, parked outside one of the shacks.

We asked the kids how they thought, people living in informal settlements ended up there. This led us into a discussion about rural urban migration.

2. The Poor Suburb

The next stop, was a poor area in Pretoria, where people lived in dilapidated houses. The image was a little blurry for the kids! Some of the houses in the neighbourhood looked okay – similar to our house even. In-between these okay houses were houses in a sorry state.

Kids hung out in the streets, the clothing of some of the people in the area painted the picture of poverty.

Clearly, the boys could see the difference between the township and the poor residential area.

3. The Rich Suburb

When we drove through a rich suburb, we took them to an area with mansions overlooking the city. We pointed to the maintenance of the house and the state of the garden – they were all, overall immaculate.

Naturally, they could clearly define rich from poor in this area.

The conversation in the car, allowed us to ask the kids whether they thought all people in the area were rich. It also allowed us to ask, whether we kids understood that some of those houses were still owned by the bank and if the owners defaulted on their bond payments, the house could be repossessed.

4. A further Examination

While driving through the suburbs, we asked the kids to look at the people’s clothing, we discussed their lifestyle and what food people in that area eat.

All in all, I think we managed to confuse the boys.

Poverty isn’t clean cut and simple to understand. It is easy to live in our little world and ignore what is happening around us. It is so easy to assume, that my friend at school has what I have.

Or that they are so much better off than I am and become entitled and greedy in the process.

With our little exercise, we got the boys to think, we gave them permission to ask questions and hopefully we have simulated them enough to look at what is going on around them!

How would you explain poverty to your child?

Like I mentioned, this is not a once off post. If we want to instill a practice of gratitude in our kids and a sense of responsibility – we need to lay the right foundation. A once off conversation is not going to cut it.

How would you explain poverty to your child?

17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 #SDG

If you haven’t heard of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, don’t beat yourself up, neither did I, until a couple of months ago.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a bit of information about the Blue Heart Campaign something that is extremely close to my heart.  However, when the same friend gave me a second pin, I found myself a little confused.   

The pin she gave me was the UN’s sustainable development goals pin.

Even though I felt honoured to be the recipient of her gift, I felt confused!  Initially I felt confused because I had no idea what it meant.  After my friend explained it to me, I did some research and felt completely overwhelmed! 

What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals? 

First and foremost, the sustainable development (SDGs) or global goals are a United Nations initiative.  They are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

See what I mean?  Overwhelming!

In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 goals for a better world by 2030.  The SDGs came into effect in January 2016.

Naturally, it is impossible for the UN alone to accomplish these goals.   It requires buy-in from us all and best of all, there are some amazing resources available to up-skill ourselves and teach our kids!

Here’s one of the intro videos designed with kids in mind!  

Here’s the thing, to end modern-day slavery, we need to address and end poverty, empower women and girls and ensure peace and justice.   So in other words (bear with me – I know it isn’t rocket science) all of these goals are interlinked and if we can achieve even half of these goals, we will have impacted nearly all of them.  

Before I get ahead of myself, allow me to list these goals as per the UN’s guidelines.  

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1. End poverty.

Goal 2. Zero Hunger.

Goal 3. Good health and well-being.

Goal 4. Quality education. 

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality.

Goal 6.  Clean water and sanitation for all.

Goal 7. Ensure affordable and clean energy.

Goal 8. Decent work and economic growth for all.

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production.

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change.

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote life on earth. 

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and global partnership for sustainable development.

My Commitment

In all fairness, I can’t say I am passionate about all of the goals.  Yes, I would like to promote, restore and protect life on earth.  But that doesn’t mean any of the below words, in their essence, mean anything to me:

“Sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”

Here is what I can do:  I can learn, I can share what I learn and I can teach my kids!  So that is exactly what I plan to do.  I plan to tackle a goal every month.  Research it, try something fun with the boys, interview experts on the subject matter and use the resources I have available at my disposal to make a difference!

It is a big commitment, but I believe that if the UN can commit to achieving these goals, the least I can do, is invest some time, share what I learn and spread the word!

Care to join me in the journey?  Let me know in the comments below!

Have you heard of the SDGs before or am I the only ostrich with my head in the ground?  

The Blue Heart Campaign | Human Trafficking Awareness

We all know the red ribbon is a symbol for  HIV/Aids awareness.  Did you know human trafficking awareness has a symbol too? 

Have you heard of the Blue Heart?

Earlier this year a friend gave me a little blue heart pin.  The pin is similar to the red HIV ribbon, but it symbolises something very dear to my heart.  I am pretty passionate about anti-human trafficking awareness and combating modern day slavery!

What is Human Trafficking? 

The United Nations defines human trafficking as follows:

Human Trafficking is defined in the Trafficking Protocol as “the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud or deception for the purpose of exploitation.”

The definition of trafficking consists of three core elements:

1) The action of trafficking which means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons

2) The means of trafficking which includes threat of or use of force, deception, coercion, abuse of power or position of vulnerability

3) The purpose of trafficking which is always exploitation. In the words of the Trafficking Protocol, article 3 “exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs

– United Nations

Let’s be very honest, I’m passionate about anti-human trafficking, but reading the above definition has my eyes doubling over.  So let me make it easy to understand.  

Four Stages of Human Trafficking

The easiest way to understand human trafficking is to understand the four stages of trafficking:

1. Tricked

A person is generally tricked with an opportunity that seems too good to be true.  Examples of what typically happens when a person is tricked include, a ‘lover-boy’ tricking a naive teenager to fall in love with him.  A person going on a once-in-a-lifetime work opportunity or international scholarship.  Or it could be the ‘innocent’ person in the shops ‘helping’ a child find his/her parents.

2. Transported

They are then transported to a different location.  If the person is kept in the same location, it would be easy to find help or change your mind and return to the safety of their family.   Transportation has deferent implications, it could be from a rural area to a city; from city to city;  between neighbouring countries or taken even abroad.

3. Trapped

Once the victim arrives at the new location, they find themselves trapped.   Mentally manipulated, locked in a room, raped, threatened with their own life or the lives of family members and or addicted to drugs.  In the case of forced labour, a person’s passport, identification documentation and or work permit is often confiscated, leaving the person vulnerable – literally trapped in a foreign location.

4. Used

Finally, when they are trapped, they are used.   Again, being used, take on different forms through prostitution, forced labour, child marriages and organ harvesting.  To name but a few.  

Human Trafficking in South Africa

Human slavery happens in South-Africa.  In actual fact, South-Africa is classified as a source, destination and transit country.  These are big words, so let’s break them down and dissect the meaning. 

Source

Source Country

South Africa is a source or donor country.  Victims are sourced here and taken to various parts of the country and world.

Destination Country

Victims from all around the world are brought to South-Africa.  Illegal immigrants seek refuge in South Africa.  They are vulnerable and desperate for work, which makes them an easy target for forced labour. 

It is also a known fact that a good brothel has variety.  Victims from different native backgrounds and countries provide needed variety in these brothels.

Transit Country

Victims are transported to destinations countries via our airports, borders and ports.

Think about it.  OR Tambo is a booming airport hub in Africa.  Our ports and borders are largely unprotected.  Even when they are protected, bribing an official is fairly easy.  

Exploitative Purposes

There are many exploitative purposes and reasons to traffick people, here are but a few purposes:  

Source

– Forced marriage, begging, labour 
– Sexual exploitation 
– Organs removal 
– Selling children 
– Child soldiers

The Blue Heart Campaign

The Blue Heart Campaign is United Nation initiative.  It demonstrates the UN’s commitment to combat human trafficking.

Some interesting Facts

The blue used in the Blue Heart is one of the UN colours.

The blue heart symbolizes the sadness of victims of human trafficking.  As well as the coldheartedness of the perpetrators.

For more information and to get involved, go to unodc.org/blueheart

A Little Makes a Lot

I wear my blue heart as a pin on my work jacket.  Not only is does it keep victims in my thoughts and prayers, it is also a great conversation started.

The aviation sector – Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – are committed to the fight against human trafficking.  Read more about it here.

The National Freedom Network fights injustice and raises awareness against human trafficking.  Join us in the fight!

No single organisation can combat human trafficking, we need to stand together, as a body and fight.

Liberated, the Film | Casual Sex Culture & Raising Kids

I recently watched a documentary about the casual sex culture we live in, called “Liberated – The New Sexual Revolution”.  Even though I was a little sceptic after watching the trailer, I thought to myself, no need to panic – you know the quality of the writer and filmmaker’s work.

I hated it from the word go.

Yet, I kept watching and hoping for something right at the end of the film that will bring perspective.  Perhaps some sort of light at the end of the tunnel or a silver lining?

So, I pushed through, thinking Benjamin Nolot is the filmmaker!   The same Benjamin Nolot who created the film called Nefarious.

Liberated:  The New Sexual Revolution

Before I continue, let’s get you on the same page:

As much as I hated the film, here I am – a week later sharing my thoughts!  Liberated, has given me something to think about.  It’s challenged my parenting and made me think of ways to teach my boys, that masculinity is so much more than what’s described in the film.

Benjamin Nolot describes the film as follows:  hard-hitting, raw, and sobering. The film takes place in a highly charged sexual atmosphere and there are instances of actual sexual violation that takes place.

Nolot makes a statement right at the end of his Q&A’s about the film, saying:

“Liberated causes us to ask more questions than it attempts to answer. It leaves us with a lot of unresolved tension and challenges us to find solutions. I see it as the beginning of a conversation, not the ending of one.”

The big difference between Liberated and Nefarious

Nefarious is a film about human trafficking, with the aim of showing the viewer the harsh reality of human trafficking, in order to raise awareness.  The film leaves you with an overwhelming feeling of shock and defeat is what the reality is yet, hope for the future!  After the film, you cannot help but share the story!

In Liberated the camera follows and interacts with students on their spring break.  Both male and female students share their hopes of getting drunk and hooking up for casual sex, with the camera!

The Target audience for Liberated is young adults, but I believe, every parent needs to watch this film – especially if you have tween or teens!

Casual Sex Culture

Have you ever considered where our casual sex culture comes from?

The casual sex culture we find ourselves in is largely related to the scenes available in media today.  Miley Cyrus swinging naked from her wrecking ball, along with the latest fashion from the red carpet – are mere examples of the pop culture, forcing our kids to be sexually ripe before their age.

12 Movie Scenes that are better than porn, is the one out of 3.3 million search results you get from google when googling sex scenes in films.

The accessibility of porn is another example.

This Generation Spoke up saying #Metoo

Our generation has stood up saying #Metoo.  Bloggers I follow had the courage to speak up.  (Harrassed Mom, The Blessed Barrenness…)

As a teen mom, I know I have been exposed to the casual sex culture!  Without shying away from it, I will admit, I am a product of it in some ways.

Guess what – I grew up in the days when it was still frowned upon to get divorced.  Porn was predominantly in magazines and there was no such thing as social media.

Today’s a whole different story!  We have big problems as parents today!

This Generation Needs to Speak up and Show up for the Sake of our Kids

Research shows us that porn and especially porn addiction has created a demand for sex in the marketplace.  The hookup culture we face tells us, there’s a problem with what we are telling our kids about love, sex and relationships and what they see in us and in the media.

Everything has become a quick-fix – from fast food to losing weight!  So why would sex be any different?  Why should love (or marriage) be a prerequisite for sex?

Liberated clearly shows us, there’s a really fine line between sex and rape.  What are we going to do about it?

Liberated is available on Netflix.  Watch it by clicking here.  If you don’t have Netflix, sign up for the 30-day trial (or alternatively contact me).

We all have a responsibility and it is time we step up to the challenge!

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How to Register for the 2017 Walk For Freedom in South Africa

A21 is a non-profit organisation who fight to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercare.  On the 14th of October, A21 hosts the 2017 Walk For Freedom in South Africa.  Walk for Freedom is an outward expression–a global fundraising and awareness campaign–of A21’s inward desire to free every single slave on the planet.

Walk for Freedom is a silent, single file walk, through various cities, all around the world, on the same day.  Because of time zones, it is almost a 24 hour walk on the day.

Did you know?  Human Trafficking is the second largest organised crime in the world.  And, 46% of South Africa’s population is vulnerable to slavery. 

What can you do?

1. Walk with us in order to raise awareness.
2. Help us raise funds and or,
3. Donate once off or monthly.

Locations for the 2017 Walk For Freedom in South Africa

There are 12 locations within South Africa hosting walks.

1. East London, Eastern Cape
2. Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3. Alberton, Gauteng
4. Braamfontein, Gauteng
5. Kempton Park, Gauteng
6. Pretoria, Gauteng
7. Randburg, Gauteng
8. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
9. Emalahleni, Mpumalanga
10. Mmabatho, North West
11. Colesburg, Northern Cape
12. Cape Town, Western Cape

Frequently Asked Questions

Details of the Event

Registration for the event starts at 07h30 to 08h00.  The walk starts at 09h00, until approximately 11h00/11h30.

Are there other Events in South Africa?

Yes, there are 12 walks hosted in South Africa alone.  Locations include Cape Town, Durban and even Colesburg and Witbank!   There are also, multiple locations in Johannesburg.  A list of locations and registration information is available by clicking here.

Are there any costs involved?

No, the walk is free; however, you will need to purchase a t-shirt for the walk at R100.00 per t-shirt.

Do I have to raise money for A21?

The fundraising option is at your own discretion, however, all funds are used to support human trafficking victims and to raise awareness to combat human slavery.

How far will we walk?

The walk is around 4.5km, we walk at a reasonable pace, in single file.

Can my kids attend the walk?

Yes, children can join the walk.  It is a 4,5km walk, so be mindful if you have smaller children.

Official Merchandise

You can purchase the official merchandise from the A21 website, but why would you, if you can purchase it locally from the host of your local walk.  The Pretoria walk has the following merchandise on offer, the other walks will be more of less the same.  Feel free to contact the host for more information.

• A21 Walk for Freedom T-Shirts R100.00 each.
• Yellow Buffs are available at a cost of R80.00 each.

My favourite part of the walk last year, was when I become quiet in the midst of chaotic traffic and really just breathe in my city.  The full force of human trafficking seems like a lost case and yet, while I walked I knew it is a spiritual battle more than anything else!  My little part, my steps and the fact that I showed up, is making a difference!

Register for the 2017 Walk for Freedom

Have you heard of A21 before?  Have you registered for the 2017 Walk for Freedom in South Africa?

 

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Keep our kids safe, teach them about Child Trafficking

Child trafficking is a real phenomenon in our midst today.  It isn’t something that happens in the Eastern Block countries or Asia.  It is happening in South Africa.

Child Trafficking is happening in South Africa.

Awareness is one of the most effective ways to prevent human trafficking.

My mom told me, as a child to keep my private parts, private.  I knew not to allow anyone, including my father or uncle, to touch me in inappropriate ways.  I knew there were evil people ‘out there‘ that would steal me and do horrible things to me if I weren’t careful.

But let’s be honest, in today’s day and age, we can’t be vague and ignorant any longer!

It is our responsibility as parents to equip ourselves.  We need to know the warning signs, we need to be diligent in our pursuit of information and transfer what we know to our kids.    We need to equip ourselves and learn how to use the tools available to us to educate our kids about human trafficking.

Child Trafficking Statistics

• In 2013 The Times published an article titled “30 000 kids trafficked in SA”. The article claimed that 50 percent of those 30 000, were under the age of 14. – Source
• The average age of a trafficked child is between 11 and 14 years old.  The average lifespan of a sex-slave is 3 to 7 years.  The implication is that kids sold into slavery could be dead at 14 years old.  The cause of death?  Death is often due to, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, drug overdoses, or suicide.  – Source
• We assume that rural or poor communities are more at risk to have their kids trafficked.  This is a lie!  We are all susceptible and vulnerable in one way or another.  Self-esteem plays a vital role, having friends and family who really cares for us, open communication and a strong identity, all plays major roles in protecting our children and loved ones.

How do you Teach your Child?

Have you had the birds and the bees conversation with your kids?  Talking about sexual exploitation and child trafficking is a natural overflow from that conversation.   Especially when your child is a little older.

If your child is 9 and older they really need to know what sex is and that there are evil people out that that will exploit their innocence.

I really battled to have the talk with Logan.  What counted in my favour was, when I had the initial chat with him, it opened up doors for open communication.  At a later stage he asked me what condoms were.  That gave me the opportunity to talk about HIV and Aids. In every conversation, I had the opportunity to

In every conversation, I had the opportunity to reiterate:

(1.) Sex is healthy for a husband and wife in a committed relationship and

(2.) Sexual Exploitation and human/child trafficking is real in Pretoria.  It happens in our city, in neighbouring suburbs.

The anti-human trafficking course I did in last year and helped facilitated in last month offers two really good programmes.  The first aimed at kids age 11 and up and the second for really young children.

Traffick Proof

Traffick Proof hopes to educate children about human trafficking.  The programme uses examples and terminology that children from the age of 11/12 will understand.  Here are the basics of the course:

Human trafficking happens when a person is (1.) Tricked, (2.) Transported, (3.) Trapped and (4.) Used.

Tricked

Often loverboys are used to trick female victim.  They seduce the young woman or girl, win their trust by entering into a romantic relationship and gradually make them dependent.  The loverboy or pimp will force them to work as prostitutes, transport drugs or steal.

• Loverboys are the number one way girls are trafficking in South Africa.
• Employment opportunities are second to loverboys.  This is when a person offers you an employment opportunity that seems too good to be true.
• A blesser as per the black community could potentially fall into the same category.

Transported

From the above, it is clear that the seduction and wooing of the loverboy leaves a victim dependent on the perpetrator.  She either chooses to go with the pimp by choice or is forced by means of physical violence to go with him.

Once she is transported she will be taken to a break room.

Trapped

The breaking house is a room or house where victims are broken – physically, spiritually and emotionally broken. Physical violence, including rape, beatings, and physical confinement, is often employed as a means to control victims, especially during the early stages of victimization.  The victim is given drugs as a means to become an addict and enslave the person even further.

The purpose of the break house is to breaks down the victim’s resistance.

Used

The victims are forced to work when they lose all resistance.

Victims of trafficking are often subjected to debt bondage.  This is when a trafficker demands labour as a mean to repayment real or alleged debt.  The victim has no means to repay their debt.  They consistently need drugs to cope, and the outstanding fees are always more than they are capable of repaying.

Did you know:  A victim is often forced to call his/her pimp Daddy?   Find more trafficking terms by clicking here.

Traffick Proof, gives kids all the hard facts mentioned above, in a safe environment.  The group is educated and counselling is generally available afterwards, for any girls who have experienced anything that closely resembles exploitation.

Traffick Proof teaches the reality of human trafficking, along with ways for kids to protect themselves.  

Born2Fly

The Born2Fly Project works to stop child trafficking by reaching kids before the traffickers do – with a free anti-trafficking curriculum available in 10 languages.  The 6-week curriculum includes topics such as choices have consequences, knowing your true friends, understanding your self-worth and value and working hard and being patient.

A wordless book called, Born to Fly forms the basis of the Born2Fly curriculum.  The kids are introduced to Blossom, a caterpillar and follows her as she makes the wrong decision to go beyond the village gates.  

The next Traffick Wise Seminar will be held in Pretoria in September.   Follow Traffick Wise on Facebook, to find out about seminars.  For seminars and courses in the rest of the country, follow The National Freedom Network on Facebook.

Register for the annual A21 Walk for Freedom at A21.org/walk

When did you have the birds and bees conversation with your kids?  Did you explain the implications of molestation, sexual exploitation and victimisation?

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Become part of the solution by spreading the word. End Human Slavery

By now, you should be aware of the fact that I am extremely passionate about freeing people trapped in human slavery.

3 Ways you can become a part of the solution to End Human Slavery!

1.) The Human Trafficking Resource Line

The South African National Human Trafficking Resource Line operates as a tool to combat human trafficking growth.  The line is manned 24/7, by specially trained professionals, who follow international protocol ensuring the fastest response to each case.

Save the resource phone number, 0800 222 777,  on your phone.  Educate your children about human trafficking and protect yourself.

DOWNLOAD A FREE RESOURCE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Most Importantly:  If you see something, say something. 0800 222 777

2.) Attend a Seminar | Traffick Wise

In last year I attended the Traffick Wise Seminar.  I hoped to gain a better understanding of human trafficking, what it entails, what to look out for in my immediate environment, how to protect myself and my kids.

Instead, I was confronted with the reality of human trafficking:

• I realised we’re fighting a losing battle.  HUMAN TRAFFICKING is too big for us to handle, but thankfully we don’t have to do it alone.  We have a heavenly Father that empowers us and gives us whatever we need to succeed.
• I learned that the pimps are victims in their own right and they also need a people to love them, forgive them and fight for them.
• The only way to combat trafficking is to end the demand for cheap labour and prostitutes.  The consumer plays an enormous role and even something as ‘innocent‘ as pornography may seem, has an impact in generating an estimated $150 Billion US Dollars profit every year.  Hence the reason, human slavery is considered the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.
• I found practical tools to use to explain human trafficking is to my kids.  I was equipped to explain to Oliver, my five-year-old, what human trafficking is, for his protection.

The next Traffick Wise Seminar takes place in next weekend.  It costs R200.00.  Take the time to educate yourself.  Become a part of the solution to end human slavery.  Click here to register.

3.)  Register for the A21 #WALKFORFREEDOM

We’re on the move.⠀
We’re taking ground.⠀
Can you hear it?⠀
The sound of thousands of footsteps. The new abolitionists are here.⠀

Register now: A21.org/Walk #WalkForFreedom

Take the first step in becoming a part of the solution to end human slavery, share this post and spread the word.

Let’s pretend ADHD is a fictitious disorder that should be ignored

I am furious at the idea that people can still refer to ADD or ADHD as a fictitious disease that will go away if we pretend it doesn’t exist.

I was asked what I did the weekend when a colleague commented that I am not doing my child a favour by helping them study for their very first exams.   According to him, I should provide my child with all the needed resources – pens, paper, visual material and the internet – and allow them to self-study the topic.

Generally, I am able to keep my cool when confronted with ignorant comments, from people who have no experience or frame of reference.  Today wasn’t one of those days.

Instead, I asked him, whether he (1.) has a child with special needs and (2.) have a child who has started writing exams at school.  Full well knowing the answer (no.).

Full well knowing the answer.

What is ADHD?

ADDitude defines ADHD as a complex neurological disorder described as a “developmental impairment of self-management functions linked to complex brain operations.”

The path parents of children walk to get their kids the best possible workable solution for the behavioural issues, is exhausting.  I can only speak for myself, but the journey from realising that my super intelligent-perfect-in-every-way little angel was – less than perfect –  was torture.

I went into denial and I even went as far as to call his teacher(s) incompetent.  Secretly, I thought the medication would just give the teachers breathing room to teach my kid in a conventional way.  I expected them to find creative ways of teaching my child.  I knew my kid was busy and a little different, I knew he was extremely persistent and didn’t pick up on social queues they way other kids would have.  Logan was also my first born and my everything.  I was determined to fight for him and his rights as a kid and as a student.

The road to reality was so hard.  I went from constantly fighting with the teacher(s) to fearing parent evenings at school.

Once I got over my denial, I had to come to terms with the fact that we needed to treat Logan’s disorder.  I tried every herbal remedy, I even combined different remedies and doses.  We changed Logan’s diet, added additional stimulation in the form of physical and mental exercises.  Logan and I worked endless hours to try to get him to read basic English words or see the pattern when looking at numbers  Mainly because ADHD isn’t his only battle, he also battles with auditory processing.

The road to reality was so hard.  It involved paediatricians, occupational therapists, clinical- and educational psychologist, speech therapists and all them came to the same conclusion.

Medication isn’t a magic potion

I wish I could say, medicating my child saved the day and we lived happily ever after.  But that wouldn’t be true.  Medication has helped Logan tremendously, but it hasn’t solved all our problems.  Perhaps, I am reluctant to keep increasing his dosage, but let’s be honest, as much as he needs assistance in the form of medication, he also needs to learn coping mechanisms and strategies.

As a parent, I still long for my child to live a ‘normal’ life.  One where he doesn’t need medication just to cope.  I still aim to help him learn skills and develop different types of intelligencies to help him cope better.  These include the development and strengthening of executive functions and practising Capoeira.

Executive Functions

Back to my colleague… I continued by recommending he googles the term executive functions.

Executive Functions are neurologically based skills that help you do, what you decide to do.   My argument was that all children need to learn these skills to enable them to:

1. Decide to prepare for their exams and
2. Plan and execute their decision well.

The above theory of providing your child with the needed tools to execute a task is great.  If your child has the needed executive functions and mental abilities to execute the task.

Reality check – executive functions are only fully developed by the age of 25-30 years.  In other words, we could all do with a little guidance from our parents.

The colleague in question was way too busy with his own agenda, to listen to my argument.  This was both hurtful and ignorant.  If anything, the whole argument has given me time to reflect on a really tough journey.  To evaluate where we are at the moment.

How often do you have conversations that stirred so much passion and anger in you, that it bothers you for days?

Being Logan’s mom, comes with a whole different set of challenges, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  My little boy is destined for great things.  Regardless of whether the journey is easy or the criticism is light, he will get there.  One step at a time.

“Forgive your child and yourself nightly. You didn’t ask to live with the effects of ADHD any more than did your child.”
― Martin L. Kutscher, ADHD – Living without Brakes

P.S.  Logan is super intelligent and perfect in his imperfect and stubborn ways.

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22 Month Old Boy Snatched in Spur and the reality that is Human Slavery

Yesterday a video of a baby boy snatched by a stranger in a local family restaurant went viral.  Reading the comments posted in social media is infuriating.  People are making racial remarks and criticising the parent, while human slavery is staring them straight in the eye.

If you haven’t seen the video, here’s the clip posted on Facebook, the full article is available on News24:

Why do we always criticise?

Some of these critics are calling the parents incompetent.  Or calling them out, saying the kid should have been sitting at the table with his parents!  Have you ever been to Spur?  Do you even have any kids?

Others happen to find the time to dig up old cows out of the grave and make the incident a racial joke!   I choose to bring some perspective on the matter.

A little boy was nearly trafficked as a human slave, stolen from his parents, for goodness knows what purpose!  Let’s have enough respect to acknowledge, that it could have happened to any one of us.

What is Human Slavery?

I first learned about human slavery in 2015, after Christene Caine, founder of the A21 campaign posted pictures of their annual #WalkForFreedom photos in social media.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery.  It’s the exploitation of people.  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement goes on to say, it is the recruitment, harbouring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labour or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.

International Statistics

• In 2016, The Global Slavery Index estimated that 45.8 million people are in some form of modern slavery in 167 countries 
• Human slavery generates an estimated $150 Billion US Dollars profit every year.   It is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.
• And there is an estimate of 5.5 million children in slavery worldwide!

South African Statistics

• The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimates 248,700 people or 0.45% of the total population live in conditions of modern slavery in South Africa.
• South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.
• In South Africa, the largest number of victims/human slaves are South Africans.
• Children are recruited from both rural and urban areas for sex trafficking and domestic servitude, forced to work in street vending, food service, begging, criminal activities, and agriculture.
• Forced begging is human trafficking!
• Girls as young as 12 are being forced into marriage with adult men.

Many children, including those with disabilities, are exploited in forced begging.

It’s time we stop looking into the feeble things of the world.   So, whether a mother breast or bottle feed becomes irrelevant when we consider the enormity of human slavery.  Racist comments become nonsicle when we put things into perspective.

I am of the opinion that demand dominates the industry – in other words  – if there were no demand for prostitutes, the wouldn’t be a supply of prostitutes.  The same goes for rape, molestation and pornography addictions for that matter.  We need to raise our children in a completely new way,  porn is not okay.  We need to set a Godly standard and example for our kids, but this really is a post for another day.

New Vision and Godly Intervention

 

Traffickers use different methods to recruit victims–pictured above are some of the methods of recruitment we’ve seen in our cases. When we know how they are trafficked, we are more equipped to stop it from happening. #KnowledgeIsPower #A21

A post shared by A21 (@a21) on Apr 26, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

The fact remains, we need a new strategy when dealing with beggars on the streets or prostitutes on the corners.  We need a new vision and Godly intervention, because, let’s get real – we cannot do this on our own!

As a start, I encourage you to take the time to educate yourself and your kids, regarding human trafficking.  By educating your loved ones they are able to recognise the signs of trafficking.

We all have a role to play, let’s do it well?

Sources of General and Statistical Information:

• 2016 Global Slavery Index
• The Tips or  Trafficking in Persons Report. South African Information available on page 340.
• The A21 Campaign 

 

Steering Clear from Stupid Conversation that Diminishes Confidence

A couple of months ago I had a stupid conversation with a colleague that left me in a rage with anger and frustration. I wrote a post about it and called it, ‘Stone the Sexist‘. It was a light-hearted and fun article that voiced the fact that the next generation of women, should not be labelled, disqualified or excluded based on gender.

The Stupid Conversation

A couple of weeks after this particular conversation with a colleague, I had another conversation similar in nature with 3 guys in our IT department at work. Of course the nature of the conversation was jokey and fun, but the undertone has been bothering me ever since.

One of the guys said there are 3 types of girls you’d find in an IT department:

1. Pretty to look at but no brains.
2. Butch / dyke / gay
3. Clever enough for the IT department, but ugly as hell.

It was a stupid, stupid conversation that I shouldn’t have entertained, and yet, here I am wondering where I’d be classified.  Truth be told, I would love to be more hands-on and involved in our IT infrastructure.  I am completely discouraged after comments like these.

It shouldn’t bother me because I know I don’t fit into any of the above categories. But it bothers me to the point where my confidence diminished when I speak to this guy.  It influences my confidence in dealing with any man I find vaguely attractive.  I’ve had enough of it. It is completely absurd!

Steering clear and remembering who I am

I am strong, capable, beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made, creative and innovative, virtuous and my opinions matter.

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