“Be Aware! Take Care!” program

Over the last six months, RSIPF officers have been attending local schools to inform students, parents, and teachers about improving personal safety.

The “Be Aware! Take Care!” program is a framework designed to equip local children with confidence and awareness of their environment.

It encourages students to be observant and identify potential dangers while instilling a sense of security by providing them with the knowledge and strategies to avoid unsafe situations and recognise warning signs.

The RSIPF AFP Police Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP) was recently asked to provide a program to educate local children and teenagers on personal safety. RAPPP, in consultation with local community members and the RSIPF, designed the “Be Aware! Take Care!” program with the safety and well-being of children as the number one priority.

The program is designed not to frighten or worry the students, as it is very rare for children to be abducted, targeted, or attacked. Instead, the program provides students with strategies to deal with unexpected situations and the importance of staying alert and aware of their surroundings.

“Be Aware! Take Care!” also discusses the responsible sharing of information on social media and the importance of anything shared being both accurate and truthful.

The program has been delivered to over 3000 students so far and has become an integral part of the community awareness and crime prevention program provided to various community groups around Honiara.

Ensuring our children’s safety and well-being is paramount, but we must also maintain their independence and resilience.