Resources - Get Mad/Glad

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) would like to commend City Press and Mokgadi Seabi for the article “Surviving a hellish life with parents” (07/06/08, p. 35) which addresses the issue of children who become carers to parents with drug or alcohol abuse problems. It was nominated for a MAD OAT Glad for addressing an issue affecting many children, in terms of their development and well-being.

The article gives children with direct experience a voice by allowing them to speak about their real life situations and experiences. It also gives them pseudo names which protects their identity.

Experts are interviewed for the story and a self help box where one can seeks help or advice is provided. This advice is also extended to laymen to look out for signs that might warn people that a child is being neglected and either report these incidents or help the child in some way.

Thapelo Rampolokeng of Eastgate Primary School thoroughly enjoyed the story. He told MMA, “The story is good, it makes children aware if their parents start drinking, this is what might happen” (Children’s Media Monitoring Project, Workshop, 09/06/09¹).

-Ronell Naidoo

Footnotes

¹ As part of its Empowering Children and the Media Strategy, MMA has been working with learners in three schools in Johannesburg, developing their knowledge of children’s rights and building skills in media monitoring and analysis. For more information on this project, contact MMA.