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Students mobilise children in the Say Yes campaign

• The number one priority is the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Inocencia assists a boy with his Say Yes form.

With her clipboard and ballot papers in hand, Inocencia squats down to be level with a boy to whom she explains the voting procedure of the Say Yes for Children campaign. Inocencia, a 23-year-old law student, volunteered to promote the campaign to children.

Inocencia takes her time to go over the meaning of each of the 10 actions to be endorsed which seek to protect and improve the lives of children. The boy, like millions of people around the world, is given a chance to choose three issues that have the most overriding importance in the country.

As with most of the people in Mozambique, he chooses the fight against HIV/AIDS as one of the main priorities.

"Almost all the children I talk to know about HIV/AIDS," comments Inocencia. "I was surprised to see that fighting HIV/AIDS has been the most popular choice out of the 60,000 votes collected to date. Just a couple of years ago people thought AIDS didn't exist in the country."

"For me also it is the number one priority. Many people are dying of AIDS." She explains that AIDS has killed her 39-year-old neighbour. Two of her friends who are HIV positive are also very sick.

After "Care for Every Child', the third most popular principle in Mozambique is "Educate Every Child".

Julie Mwitu talks with students about the Say Yes ten issues as they complete their forms.

"We have a high level of illiteracy in the country," says Inocencia. "Improving educational opportunities is a real challenge in Mozambique. A chronic lack of qualified staff and basic materials, and very low teacher-to-pupil ratios dampen the aspirations of many children. An estimated half of all school age children do not even get a chance to go to school."

For the past three years, Inocencia has been offering free reading, writing and drawing classes for out-of-school children in her neighbourhood. She teaches in her home during the weekends and her holidays.

"I enjoy working with children, and they love the lessons. I wish I could give them more time."

Despite her busy schedule, Inocencia, offered her help in the Say Yes campaign, mobilising people --especially children-- and processing the votes via computers.

The results will be presented to world leaders at the first ever UN Special Session on Children (8-10 May 2002).

"When I explain the campaign to children, I can feel that they have hope for a better future," says Inocencia.

"I expect that the Special Session will come up with some concrete ways to fight HIV/AIDS, educate every child and leave no child out. These are the three most important principles for me."

By Ruth Ayisi, UNICEF Mozambique