Windhoek: The National Organisation of Parents in Education (NAOPE) on Thursday called on parents, guardians, and community members to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children during the upcoming festive season.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the organisation's spokesperson, Salome Kambala, in a media statement said this is the period when children face the highest risk of alcohol exposure, drug use, sexual exploitation, neglect, accidents, and emotional harm.

Kambala stressed the importance of vigilance, urging every parent and guardian to remain responsible and fully involved in their children's lives. 'NAOPE urges every parent and guardian to remain vigilant, responsible, and fully involved in their children's lives,' she said.

She highlighted the potential consequences of negligence, noting that 'a single moment of negligence can destroy a child's future, but a single moment of responsible parenting can save it.'

The spokesperson recommended that to ensure children return to school in 2026 healthy and safe, parents should prevent their access to alcohol or drugs, report suspicious behaviour immediately, and not leave children alone with intoxicated adults or strangers.

Kambala emphasized that a child who returns to school damaged or burdened cannot learn effectively. She called for Namibians to practice community parenting, stating, 'Every child we see, whether our biological child or not, is a future doctor, teacher, police officer, engineer, leader, or nation-builder. It is our collective duty to protect any child in danger. If you see harm, act immediately.'