Children's Movement - South Africa

Constituency:

children between the ages 7 to 14 years old.

Children’s group:

The Children’s Movement is a membership organisation. This is one of the ways through which it strives  to inculcate a sense of responsibility, accountability and  a sense of security. Most importantly, however, they are expected to subject themselves to the code of conduct of the group and the organisation as a whole. And these are based on the values, philosophy and mission of the organisation.

The organisation therefore  stresses the importance of being a member of the organisation. Children we wish to participate in the activities of the organisation on an on-going basis, are expected to join it eventually.  The Children’s Group is the smallest organisational unit of the organisation. It is basically a community-based organisation of children from the same residential area who have come together to do things together. Each group has a name, an executive committee and a venue (in the Apartheid days was a very serious problem because communities had very little access to facilities. It still is a problem but much less so now that we have access to schools and community centres).

It is co-ordinated by an adult (the adult co-ordinator) who the children select from amongst the adults in the area  (most frequently a women  - increasingly  young women). The young male adult co-ordinators come from the ranks of the organisation, children who have grown up within it.

The membership of the groups vary in number between 30 and 50. The majority are girl members.

Each group has a team for each of the programmes the organisation has organised some activity around: environment, health, etc.

The meetings of the general Council are important events. They serve an important function in educating  and training the members in the various social and organisational skills such as public speaking, solving problems they are confronted with, meeting  procedures, about the different cultures, languages and traditions  of the people of South Africa; etc.

Each group has its own executive committee composed of a chairperson and vice-chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, and a teams for each of the different programmes – health, environment, etc.

Each group is represented on a General Council (GC) by two delegates, a boy and a girl. This council elects an  executive committee composed of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, a secretary and assistant secretary, and two additional members. This committee serves as the leadership of the Children’s Movement.

Meetings:

General Councils meet  monthly

Adult Co-ordinators

The number of adult co-ordinators who work as volunteers with the organisation number between 40 and 50 nationally. Their period with the organisation vary from  one year to fifteen years. The number of adult co-ordinators, male and female,  who were child members is increasing. The help in running the children’s groups and serve as a staff when employment opportunities become possible.

As a matter of policy, when employment opportunities become available within the organisation, these are made filled from the ranks of the volunteers with a minimum of six months as volunteers.

The adult co-ordinators also have a General Council where all adult co-ordinators are represented.

This council elects an executive committee who is responsible for the CRC and the general management of the organisation as a whole.