IN May, Child Month, our children are given special attention and recognition. However, in recent times, it appears that our children are not recognised as they should be. Children are constantly reported missing, murdered, and abused, and the list goes on.

An old African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.. This conveys the message that many people in the village are needed to provide a safe, healthy environment for children, where they can receive the security necessary for their development, enabling them to realise their hopes and dreams. Fostering a supportive environment for children necessitates an atmosphere in which their voices are genuinely valued (Reupert et al, 2022). This involves the participation of various individuals, referred to as the villagers, who include parents, siblings, extended family members, neighbours, teachers, professionals, community members, and policymakers. All these villagers may provide direct or indirect care for the children and offer support to parents in their responsibilities for child-rearing.

Even though parents may be a child’s primary caregivers, a family does not exist in a vacuum. It takes social connections among members of the family and the community to help raise a child. Social connectedness has been defined as those subjective psychological bonds that people experience with others. These social connections are built through activities like volunteering and community events, which not only increase interpersonal contact but also ensure that help is available when needed and that no one feels isolated.

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory highlights the various factors that impact children’s learning and development. The theory demonstrates how different social connections impact children’s outcomes across varying proximity levels (this may also vary for different families). The theory implies that families, schools, community groups and agencies working together can achieve more than either could alone.

When viewed from a historical perspective there were instances when a family could not care for their children for various reasons, which would often lead to reliance on extended family and community networks for assistance in raising them. Today, communities have become fragmented and disconnected, resulting in increased isolation among individuals. In a society that is more digitally connected than ever, we’re experiencing greater isolation than before. Many people hesitate to either seek help or help others. Factors such as family breakdown, fear, lack of trust, economic pressures, and long working hours have all contributed to families feeling less connected to their extended relatives and their surroundings.

Neighbours and family members, who should be our children’s protectors, have instead become abusers, liars, and manipulators, leaving a gap in our community that was once rich with shared memories. This gap has now denied future generations a solid connection to their heritage and traditions. Where has the village gone?

Centuries ago the system worked, not because people had more resources but because they had each other. As a child, I recall being brought up by a village where everyone cared for each other. No child would dare to “talk back” to a family member or even a neighbour — however, nowadays, many people are reluctant to correct someone else’s child. You often hear arguments like, “Leave my child alone; a mi alone have him/her”, “You can’t tell me how to raise my pickney”, and so forth. Some extended family members may not be allowed to correct a child, whether for valid reasons or not. Somewhere along the road, we lost the village. As a society we should work on rebuilding the village that has deteriorated. Let us be our brother’s keeper and look out for each other. Being our brother’s keeper will encourage moral responsibility, foster empathy, promote justice, and strengthen the bond within a community.

The demise of the village can lead to a loss of community connections, resulting in increased isolation and a diminished sense of belonging. A disrupted social network can reduce the emotional and practical support that people depend on, fostering a sense of loneliness. People are afraid of each other, no one can be trusted because the one we trust has become the perpetrator.

Why do we still need the village?

We still need the village for our children, which will provide a wider support system for better spiritual, emotional, social, physical, and educational development. For adults, it will help combat burnout, allow for the sharing of ideas, and the building of social relationships whereby parents can share ideas with each other to help promote positive discipline. For the society the village creates a safer neighbourhood and a stronger network.

Caring for our children is a collective responsibility that brings people together — essential for strengthening families and developing resilient communities. Therefore, let us revisit the rebuilding of the village where it has broken down. Let’s re-establish the social connections that it brings through which neighbours could leave their child/children with each other without fear of them being mistreated or even murdered.

Practical steps in rebuilding the village

Community efforts, neighbourhood watch, and the Church serve as the anchors of society, with the Government and non-governmental organisations collaborating in partnership on policies that promote social support. Let us revive the value of, “It takes a village to raise a child” by including grandma and grandpa. Older parents can be mentors to younger parents. Foster a community network by reporting wrongdoing and stopping the hiding of perpetrators. Strengthen schools and family partnerships; share a meal with your neighbour. Visit the elderly and give support. Ecclesiastes says, “Two are better than one for if they fall, one will lift the other.” The village is God’s design. Let us ask God for direction on how to raise our children.

Sophia Francis, MA, is an associate counselling psychologist. E-mail her at wisdomforlife2020@gmail.com.

Sophia Francis