NGB takes gambling education to South African schools in Child Protection Week
By interacting directly with learners, the NGB aims to promote a culture of awareness and responsibility, protecting young people from the risks of harmful behaviours.
South Africa.- The National Gambling Board of South Africa (NGB) has marked Child Protection Week by visiting schools to educate students about the dangers of underage gambling.
The Board conducted an outreach program at Phumelela Education Circuit in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Nata, which included Inselele Primary School, Vukuzakhe High School, Zwelibanzi High School and Khuthala Primary School. Learners were engaged in discussions about the risks of gambling at a young age and equipped with skills to make informed decisions about their lives.
By interacting directly with learners, the NGB aims to promote a culture of awareness and responsibility, protecting young people from the risks of harmful behaviours.
Child Protection Week, observed from May 26 to June 1, is a national campaign led by the Department of Social Development that rallies families, communities and society to unite in protecting children across all settings, including home, school and online.
The NGB’s school outreach aligns with its broader goal of promoting responsible gambling practices among young people. This is particularly important, given the worrying trend highlighted in a recent report by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), which found that gambling-related psychiatric evaluations and inpatient admissions have risen sharply in recent years.
The SARGF, a public-private partnership between the NGB, Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs) and the gambling industry, is tasked with implementing responsible gambling initiatives and offering free treatment and counselling to those affected by problem gambling.
