’n Skaapwagter het honderd skape gehad. Een van hulle was ‘n ou ram wat nie lekker geruik het nie en wat altyd kwaad gedoen het. Op ‘n dag het die ram weggeraak. Die skaapwagter sou kon sê: ‘Vergeet van hom! Hy maak tog net moeilikheid.’ Maar hy het nie. Hy het die ander nege en negentig skape alleen gelos en die hele nag in die koue en reën na hom gaan soek.
“Uiteindelik het die skaapwagter hom in ‘n diep sloot gekry. Hy was vol modder. En sjoe, hy het sleg geruik! Maar die skaapwagter het nie omgegee nie. Hy het die ram op sy skouers getel en die hele pad huis toe geloop en sing. Hy nooi toe sy vriende vir ‘n partytjie. ‘Ek het die verlore skaap gekry!’ het hy vrolik uitgeroep.”
“Net so is dit in die hemel,” het Jesus verduidelik. “Die engele hou partytjie elke keer as iemand wat verlore was, terugkom na God toe.”
(God se kinders. Verhale uit die Bybel Lux Verbi B.M. en Christelike Lektuurfonds 2010)
In God se nuwe wêreld (Koninkryk) is almal in tel. God is veral besorg oor die geringstes wat in die
Die aantal vermiste kinders in ons land is hartverskeurend. Daar is verskillende maniere waarop gelowiges betrokke
Missing Children
Since official statistics were launched in 1994 there have been over 1000 children reported missing in
About 1200 children are reported missing each year in our country, with more than 90% being found within the first week. This unfortunately still leaves us with at least 10% of the children not being traced.
This figure is regarded as conservative.
According to a US Government report, there are 800, 000 people trafficked across international borders annually. This figure does not include those trafficked within their own countries. (US Government 2006)
There is a demand for trafficked children as cheap labour or for sexual exploitation.
It can happen to your child!!!!
Introduction to Missing Children South Africa
Missing Children SA was established in March 2007 in response to the kidnapping and brutal murders of Sheldean Human (7) of
The first 24 hours after a child goes missing, is the most crucial and our organisation exists to create awareness and to react immediately, when a child is reported missing.
Missing Children SA assists the South African Police Service in finding children and creating a national awareness. Citizens of
Cape Town Multi Service Centre
Elsa van Huyssteen, lidmaat van die NG gemeente Pinelands se Cape Town Multi Service Centre, spoor o.a. straatkinders se ouers op en bemagtig hulle om weer ‘n tuiste vir hulle kinders te skep.
Jeug en Risiko-Gedrag
Gemeentes en gelowiges word geroep om met liefde en begrip betrokke te raak by die jongmense wat die pad byster (kan) raak. Danie Mouton (29-04-2010) skryf:
Mediese Navorsingsraad stel Tweede Oorsig oor Jeug en Risiko-Gedrag vry
In opvolging van hul eerste verslag (2002) het die Mediese Navorsingsraad pas hul tweede nasionale verslag oor Risiko-gedrag by Jongmense bekendgestel (April 2010). Interessant genoeg het die risiko-gedrag rondom seksualiteit afgeneem, maar op ander terreine weer toegeneem. Die media-verklaring gee ’n kort oorsig en word hieronder volledig weergegee.
Die verslag volg op ‘n opname onder 10,270 hoërskoolleerders van Grade 8 tot 11. Dit handel oor die voorkoms van gedragspatrone wat vir jongmense ‘n risiko inhou rondom siekte en swak gesondheid. Die opname en verslag het onder leiding van ‘n navorsingspan van die Gesondheidsbevordering Navorsing- en Ontwikkelingseenheid van die Mediese Navorsingsraad plaasgevind, met prof Priscilla Reddy as hoofnavorser. Dr Reddy sê: “Hierdie ondersoek gee ‘n wetenskaplike prentjie in die omstandighede waarmee jongmense gekonfronteer word terwyl hulle in Suid-Afrika opgroei. Deur die stressore te identifiseer wat ‘n impak op hierdie sleutelkomponent van ons samelewing maak, word ons in staat gestel om kosbare hulpbronne optimaal aan te wend.”
Uit die mediaverklaring:
Following the first Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002, this survey investigated behaviours related to infectious diseases (sexual risk behaviour and hygiene), injury and trauma (violence and traffic safety), mental health (depression, suicide related behaviour, substance use), and chronic diseases (nutrition and physical activity). The data from the YRBS surveys may contribute useful evidence as government plans its long term strategy by showing trends in behaviours that place youth at risk for disease and ill health.
Some positive developments
The 2008 survey showed significant reductions in risky sexual behaviour. Fewer school learners had ever had sex (from 41% to 38%). Of those who had sex, the number of school learners that had two or more sexual partners in their lifetime significantly reduced (from 45% to 41%), and less learners had one or more sexual partners during the past three months (from 70% to 52%). Also, of those who ever had sex, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections significantly reduced (from 7% to 4%), while consistent condom use increased slightly (29% to 31%).
Increasing health threats
The survey showed clear reductions in physical activity, increased threat to mental health and unsafe traffic behaviour. A significant increase in physical inactivity (38% to 42%) and TV watching for more than 3 hours per day (25% to 29%) was observed. Regarding mental health, more learners made one or more suicide attempts during the past six months (17% to 21%). Regarding unsafe traffic behaviour, more learners drove a vehicle after drinking alcohol in the past 30 days (8% to 18%) and were driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol in the past 30 days (35% to 38%).
Gemeentes behoort hierdie verslag behoorlik te bestudeer. Die volledige verslag en ’n kort bekendstellingspamflet is op die MNR se webblad beskikbaar.
Pieter van Niekerk