Invest in children for the next wave

VIOLENCE, poverty, hunger and poor-quality education are compromising the development of children, and this is costing the economy billions.

These findings are compiled in The South African Child Gauge 2017, which explored what the country’s children need, not only to survive but also to thrive.

“Children’s ability to thrive is rooted in their ability to learn, their motivation to succeed, and in healthy relationships that protect them from adversity,” said DG Murray Trust chief executive David Harrison.

The review was published by UCT’s Children’s Institute in partnership with Unicef South Africa, the DST-NRF Centre for Excellence in Human Development and the University of the Witwatersrand, among others.

This year’s theme was “Survive, thrive, transform”.

“Most of South Africa’s children are surviving, but too many fail to thrive and achieve their full potential, and this is costing the economy billions in lost human potential.

“Investing in children – and in violence prevention, networks of care, nutrition, education and inclusive services – would drive the next wave of social and economic transformation, boost gross domestic product and secure a more sustainable future for everyone,” said the researchers.

Unicef South Africa country representative Hervé Ludovic de Lys said the sustainable development goals (SDGs) which were adopted by South Africa in 2015 set an ambitious agenda.

“They call for a co-ordinated global effort to transform societies, economies and the environment to ensure a fairer and safer future for all, and a new approach to human development, starting with the most vulnerable, to ensure no one is left behind,” said De Lys.

Children’s Institute (CI) senior researcher and lead editor of The South African Child Gauge 2017, Lucy Jamieson, said: “While the SDGs are a global agenda, their vision of intersectoral collaboration and inclusive development can help take South Africa forward – provided we start by investing in children.”

The researchers said a recent study found that violence against children cost South Africa about R239bn– or 6% of the GDP – in 2015.

“In addition, stunting – a sign of chronic malnutrition that affects one in four children under five in the country – compromises children’s education, long-term health and employment prospects, and costs the country an estimated R62bn a year,” the researchers said.

P r o f e s s o r and director of the DSTNRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development at the University of the Witwatersrand, Linda Richter, said children would thrive under the right conditions.

“All children need nurturing care including responsive care giving; good nutrition; protection from disease, violence and stress; and opportunities to learn. These elements are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and are essential for adulthood.”

CI director Professor Shanaaz Mathews said: “The good news is that South Africa now has a significant body of research that outlines the drivers of violence and what can be done to prevent it.

“We need carefully designed, multi-sectoral prevention strategies that have been proven to work.”

‘Too many are failing to thrive and achieve their full potential’