Save the Children trains 80 mentors for Covid 19 psychosocial support

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Daniel Bili, ZANIS, in Chadiza, July 21, 2021

SAVE the Children through Childline Lifeline Zambia has trained 80 mentors in Chadiza District to offer psychosocial support that help children and parents cope with fears of the Covid 19 as schools remain closed.

The mentors are helping parents adapt non abusive parenting skills while children are being helped on how to cooperate with their parents and continue attending to their school work.

According to Childline lifeline Zambia District Programmes Officer Clayford Musute that his organisation with aid from Save the Children has continued to engage children despite schools being closed through home based care learning and psychosocial support in the wake of Covid 19.

Mr Musute told ZANIS in Chadiza today that despite the Covid 19 pandemic causing fears among parents as schools remain closed, Save the Children has embraced a new way of teaching and reaching out to children and parents with psychosocial support.

He disclosed that the organization has trained over 80 Community Mentors and Facilitators that are reaching out to both children and parents in the area with door to door activities.

“Reaching out to children and parents in the lockdown has helped to keep them interested in school and keeping safe amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. The children are advised on how to cooperate with their parents and also parents are taught how to take good care of their children,” he said.

Mr Musute revealed that some parents had taken advantage of the closure of schools to engage them in abusive work all the time.

John Zulu, 14, of Alekeni Village is equally happy that his parents give him time to attend to lessons. He says he has learnt to obey his parents and listens to their advice.

“We are advised on how to cooperate with our parents. We have been equipped with skills on how we can progress in school even in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Michael Phiri a Community Mentor at Manje Hub is appreciative of the positive Change Save the Children is creating in the lives of children and parents in the area.

“I’m happy about the job well done by facilitators and my fellow mentors which most people are appreciating. Children are learning a lot from home and parents are also being taught about positive parenting,” he said.

Mr Phiri said that due to COVID-19 Mentors and counsellors have resorted to conduct door to door activities which he said has created a bond between them and the children.

For over a year, Save the Children has been working closely with Community structures like the child protection committees, Counsellors, Facilitators, and Mentors, Community leaders and government leaders in the district to strengthen child protection systems.

ENDS/DB/ZANIS/Chadiza…Dry