Identikidz loading for the festive season | Identikidz loading for the festive season | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Identikidz.JPG" width="1440" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The project, aimed at promoting child safety at the City’s beaches, has grown to be trusted by thousands of parents and caregivers as an additional layer of protection while enjoying a day at the beach. The project will be deployed once more from mid-December, for the peak festive season. Read more below:<br></p> | <div>The Identikidz project allows children to be tagged on arrival at the beach, with a band containing their caregiver’s details.</div><div><br></div><div>In the event that a child gets separated from their family, responders can use the contact information to reunite them.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The project was first introduced in 2016. </div><div><br></div><div>It is managed by the Social Development & Early Childhood Development (SD&ECD) Department, and rolled out at Cape Town’s busiest beaches, as determined by the Disaster Risk Management Centre. <br></div><div><br></div><div><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Identikidz%203.JPG" alt="" style="width:949px;" /></figure></span>‘More than 120 000 children were tagged last festive season, with Strand and Mnandi returning the highest figures. The statistics are proof of the value that the Identikidz project adds, but also that more and more parents and caregivers are taking their children’s safety to heart when out and about over the very busy festive period. As we prepare to launch this year’s instalment, I want to encourage families to make use of the service, for added peace of mind. </div><div><br></div><div>‘It is however important to remind everyone that they are ultimately still responsible for their children. While many children are quickly reunited, we have had instances where, by nightfall, children are handed over to social workers. In such cases, the situation does escalate, and will include numerous home visits to ensure that the child’s overall circumstances are acceptable. So, please parents, do your bit – we understand that sometimes children wander off in the crowds, but it’s unacceptable that some are still unclaimed hours later, when the beach day has ended,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The project will run over the following periods: </div><div><br></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>15 – 17 December</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>23 – 26 December</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>30 – 31 December</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>1 January</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>6 – 7 January</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>13 – 14 January</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>20 – 21 January </div><div><br></div><div>Participating beaches are Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strandfontein. </div><div><br></div><div>On 26 December and 1 January, Identikidz will also be available at Maidens Cove. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>HOW IDENTIKIDZ WORKS</strong></div><div><br></div><div>A registration kiosk, manned by an SD&ECD staff member and temporary staff members employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme, is situated at the main entrance to the beach. </div><div><br></div><div>Staff also roam the beach, encouraging parents to make their way to the registration desk if they have not done so already.</div><div><br></div><div>Each child that is registered receives a waterproof wristband containing a unique number. That number is recorded next to the details of the children (their caregiver’s name, address and a contact number) on a registration sheet.</div><div><br></div><div>If a child’s family cannot be contacted via phone, a broadcast is done via the beach loudhailers. </div><div><br></div><div>If by the end of the Identikidz shift, the child has still not been claimed, social workers from the Provincial Department of Social Development are activated to complete track and trace of parents/ primary caregivers.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>End</div><div><br><br></div><p><br></p> | 2023-12-02T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#91b32b75-e5b2-4c6f-aa36-8403fd64d234;L0|#091b32b75-e5b2-4c6f-aa36-8403fd64d234|Identikidz Programme;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GPP|#d5141e36-ff62-46df-b0f1-9b4b0b021e67;GP0|#2ed2e328-76fa-47cf-96c1-0c869efb561b;L0|#02ed2e328-76fa-47cf-96c1-0c869efb561b|Disaster Risk Management;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#8116a21d-447e-4cb0-b50d-1fbd04f4b2f0;L0|#08116a21d-447e-4cb0-b50d-1fbd04f4b2f0|EPWP;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |