The world celebrates Universal Children's Day to emphasise international togetherness and awareness to child rights worldwide.
The date, 20 November, marks the day in which the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) in 1989. This year's theme centres around "promoting children's welfare and children's rights."
A world at School Global Youth Ambassadors in Nigeria namely Isaac Success, Uchechukwu Arinze, Akindolani Dayo, Ijeoma Oforka, Joy Tiku, Chaste Inegbedion, Eniola Olowu, Chiamaka Uzomba and Stephanie Diejomoah, alongside partner organizations, including Youth Power Initiative, Slum to School and Zariah Foundation, did commemorate this day by reaching out to internally displaced persons (IDPs), orphans and marginalized children in Abuja, and children with various forms of disabilities (inclusive) in Lagos, with basic educational materials (exercise books, pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers, rulers, etc) clothings, shoes, love and much affection.
"We are commemorating Universal Children's Day by helping children who miss out of school and learning," says GYA Joy Tiku. "We want to ensure that their basic human rights, including the right to education, are upheld."
13yrs old Sakinatu says "Education is important to her because she has learnt more about how to become a good citizen in her country", while 15yrs old Asiya says "Education helps young people to know their right as citizens of any country and also enlightens ones behaviour".
"We should be educated to become valuable in future, says 13yrs old Blessing".
"As Global Youth Ambassadors, children are at the centre of our world, and our legacy is to ensure children succeed grown ups, we are here to give children a reason to be hopeful".
"Education is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of discrimination and poverty that children with disabilities and their families often face, says Isaac Success. Our essence of teaming up to reach out to this particular set of children is to help promote an healthy self esteem for them, making them realize that they have rights as children and they are loved just the way they are.
This is why the children are given basic educational materials to further equip them to be educated."
Chaste Inegbedion added "that we want to ensure that their basic human rights, including the right to education, are upheld. While Uchechukwu Arinze says "this is because children deserve the attention, care and support for balanced lives".
Children are the future. They are central to the success of every nation. Children could be gifted, talented, skilled, out-of-school, orphaned, vulnerable or disabled, white or black, but they should be treated equally and accorded their fundamental human rights. It is for this reason GYAs in Nigeria have taken a stand to ensure the voice of every Nigerian child is heard!
We are #Upforschool
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