Dear Editor,

My heart bleeds when I see young children making their way to school alone. As recently as this week I saw a nursery school girl walking to school all alone; she was two blocks away from her school. I held my breath as she crossed the street without even looking to see whether the traffic was clear; Thank God it was. I was too far away to help.

Yesterday I saw a girl, about seven years old, trying desperately to supervise a toddler while pushing a vending cart on a busy street! I’m overwhelmed by the sight of children taking toddlers to school. They can hardly take care of themselves on the road. How can anyone expect them to take care of a smaller one(s)?

I can understand that given the circumstances in our poverty-stricken society, some parents may not have a choice but to let them go and hope and pray that they return safely. However, I can’t help but think, “How can anyone love them so little that they would send them out there, alone?”

I urge parents, please. If it’s not possible to take your young children to school, make alternative arrangements. Ensure that they are accompanied to school by a responsible adult. Moreover, I appeal to citizens to be conscious of our little pedestrians. Wherever possible, assist them to cross the street.

Drivers, please be especially considerate to our little ones. Do not speed. Sometimes it may even mean that you have to stop and allow them to cross the street. Please. Do so. They are the most vulnerable in our society. Let us help to ensure that they grow up to realise their full potential. Besides, some single parent may have to choose between taking them to school or getting to work for 8 am so that dinner would be on the table. Please, let us all do our part to ensure the safety of our babies.

Yours faithfully,

Vanessa Devonish