Children and Youth

The Western Cape High Court delivered a harrowing verdict recently, sentencing Kelly Smith, the mother of six-year-old Joshlin, to life imprisonment. Alongside her, co-defendants Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn also received the same sentence. This chilling case took a tragic turn when Joshlin went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024. In a poignant moment, the presiding judge ordered the names of all three convicts to be entered into the national Child Protection Register. This measure serves as a…

On May 8th, the vibrant city of Dakar witnessed a significant stride towards economic empowerment with the official launch of the second phase of the Project for Support and Promotion of Women's and Youth's Entrepreneurial Initiatives, known as PAVIE II. This initiative, strategically rooted in the ambitious “Sénégal 2050” national development framework, boasts a substantial budget of €163.449 million. But what does this really mean for the people of Senegal? The essence of PAVIE II lies not just in numbers but in the…

In a stark shift in its foreign aid strategy, the United States has decided to withhold $50 million in health assistance to Zambia. This decision stems from the alarming issue of "systematic theft" of donated drugs and medical supplies within the country. What does this mean for those in dire need of medical support? U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, expressed the gravity of this choice. He described it as a "difficult" but necessary step after countless warnings to the Zambian government about the importance of…

On April 14, we marked a haunting eleven years since the tragic abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok by the extremist group Boko Haram in 2014. This incident did not merely shed light on the depths of human depravity but also highlighted the alarming systemic inadequacies in Nigeria's governance and security frameworks. Why, in a nation rich with resources and talent, do we continue to witness such harrowing events? Despite widespread condemnation and the fervent #BringBackOurGirls campaign, a staggering 90 of those…

Ritual killings remain a distressing and recurring tragedy across various regions of Africa. In particular, children fall prey to these heinous acts, vulnerable and defenseless against those who exploit their innocence. Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, a researcher and lecturer at Aberystwyth University, sheds light on this grim phenomenon by asserting that the unfortunate belief in the potency of children’s body parts fuels these crimes. In his 2022 study, Owusu unearthed startling statistics: over fifty percent of ritual murder…

Across South Africa, an outpouring of voices rose in unison as thousands of students, activists, and concerned citizens took to the streets. Their rallying cry? Justice for a seven-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape, who suffered the unimaginable—a rape committed within the supposed safety of her school in October 2024. It’s a moment that has sparked outrage and galvanized a nation. The protesters weren’t merely expressing anger; they delivered heartfelt memoranda to education officials, demanding immediate action. Calls…

Stellenbosch University’s Tataokhona project recently unveiled a compelling report entitled, "The State of South Africa's Fathers 2024," which delves into the evolving dynamics of fatherhood within the family structure. As we navigate an era marked by rapid social, economic, and cultural shifts, understanding the role of fathers has never been more crucial. One striking finding reveals that while 76% of children reside with an adult male, only 35% live with their biological father—a marked decline from 45.3% in 1996. What…

Malnutrition poses a formidable obstacle for many African countries. According to a recent UNICEF report, a staggering 64 million children across the continent—roughly one-third—are grappling with "severe food poverty." This dire situation is likely to escalate into "wasting," a perilous form of malnutrition that can have devastating consequences. How do we turn the tide on such a pervasive issue? At the forefront of this global conversation is the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit 2025, scheduled to take place in Paris.…

The ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the eastern regions such as Goma, is reaching critical levels. Civilians, especially children, are bearing the brunt of this turmoil. According to UNICEF, the situation grows increasingly dire with each passing day. The refugee agency estimates that hundreds of thousands have been uprooted by the relentless fighting. Imagine for a moment the sheer chaos—a family that once shared laughter and meals finds itself scrambling for safety, with little to no…

In recent years, the plight of children in Mali has escalated, leaving an indelible mark on their lives amid escalating violence and widespread atrocities. The ongoing conflict, fueled by various factions, has created an environment where the most vulnerable—our children—face unimaginable horrors on a day-to-day basis. What does it say about our collective humanity when the innocent are caught in the crossfire of such chaos? Reports suggest that between April 2022 and March 2024, more than 2,000 egregious violations against…