Who is the African Child? Since 1991 the Day of the African Child is celebrated on June 16 every year. When it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) went on to honor those children who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day
Celebration of International Day of the African Child is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of children in Africa. The day was first observed in 1991 to commemorate an uprising by students protesting against their unequal access to education in South Africa during apartheid
Its primary aim is to commemorate the SOWETO children’s uprising of 1976, during which thousands of South African students protested the apartheid government’s use of Afrikaans as their language of instruction in Bantu schools
We Joined rest of stakeholders at Kaundha grounds Gulu City to honor the Day of the African Child which included to celebrate the bold steps we are taking together to change the odds for vulnerable girls and by in Africa. It’s in our collective power to change the systems that hold girls and boys back, and that is exactly what we are working on every day as Umbrella of Hope Initiative.
Accordingly, through our community visits during activity implementation of PISCCA projects have identified the challenges faced by children more so girl child in informal settlements. These include, redefining the African personhood and hard process of child development, poverty, malnutrition, changes in educational systems, poor access to quality education, child labor, conflict and war, HIV/AIDS, child marriages, and access to quality health care.
Children irrespective of their race, backgrounds and color deserve equal attention. Through PISCCA project under Gender Based Violence coalition led FIDA Uganda supported by French Embassy where we happen to be implementers to ensure primary aim of the project is fulfilled have taken step to raise awareness among the audiences of young girls at risk of aforementioned challenges like early marriages, rape and defilement, neglect, child labor and lack of access to basic parenting.
Girls that are victimized in their early ages often lose track of the child development process and development self-neglect resulting from ugly experiences like mockery from society members. We are on ground to ensure total change of mindset towards girl child, child mothers and children with disability to be accepted and included in the society’s development agenda.
Our change agents have done holistic contribution to preach the gospel of mindset in addition to our social media and broadcast media messages disseminated to target audiences. These find it easy to communicate to peers behind acts that victimize children since they are in within their proximity.
Besides, engaging key stakeholders like leaders in distinguished structures remains paramount in enhancing mobilization of efforts towards ensuring child rights mostly girls are respected as stipulated. While conversing with Kweyo Cell Chairperson discovered that his leadership has special committee purposed to mitigate issues affecting children mostly resulting from gender based related cases.
With collective efforts from development partners, governing bodies, parents and youth shall achieve the project purpose of ensuring absolute change of mindset to cease any cases of violence underrating girl child rights.
