1074 'buddies' seek to generate conversations about protecting children

Members of parliament and celebrities are to partner with a mini cardboard child - a "buddy" - to raise awareness of protecting vulnerable children between 12-15 November 2013.

"Buddy Day", organised by Child Matters, involves school children decorating the "buddies" for adoption by influential business people, celebrities, politicians, iwi, community leaders, social advocates and members of the public to generate conversations about the role every adult has in keeping children safe from abuse in their workplaces and communities.

1074 buddies will be adopted in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Wellington, representing 20% of the cases of child abuse substantiated by Child, Youth and Family in those regions last year. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, Governor-General Jerry Mateparae, and celebrities Mike Edwards, Time Foley and Eric Murray are all adopting buddies or championing the cause.

Sir Jerry said educating and empowering adults to speak up if they suspected child abuse was part of the solution to preventing it. "Children can’t prevent child abuse, but adults can and there is something every adult can do. We can speak up for children and show them that we care by adopting a Buddy on Buddy Day."

Child Matters CEO Anthea Simcock says there is also a special meaning for the children who decorate the buddies. "The learning for our children is about what a child needs to be safe, happy and healthy. Buddy Day demonstrates to children that adults are here to care for them and love them."

More information is available at the Buddy Day website on the Facebook page and Twitter at #buddyday_nz.

Media:

Friday's fight against child abuse, SunLive, 11.11.13

Buddies get leaders talking about child abuse, Voxy, 5.11.13

Image: Parent and child by skyseeker. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) .