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Day of the African Child Celebrations in all Regions - Report In Swaziland, the Day of the African Child (DAC) is used to create awareness and strengthen advocacy campaigns on issues affecting children. While this internationally recognized day for children is held each year on 16 June, Swaziland once again demonstrated its commitment to children by dedicating the entire month of June to children. In addition to events centred around the DAC, the month-long celebration was marked by activities that brought children’s concerns to the fore. Children were given opportunities to express themselves in print and electronic media and through children’s symposiums. DAC Theme for 2008 The theme for the 2008 celebrations was “Children’s right to participation: let children be heard and seen.” Participation is the right of every child as guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Ensuring that children have a voice that is listened to and respected is vital in building a strong community and a strong future. Child participation teaches children civil responsibility and democratic principles and it also builds children’s self esteem and enhances their social development. DAC Celebrations In Swaziland, the celebrations of the Day of the African Child took place over four days beginning Monday 16th June and running through Thursday 19th June 2008. These regional events were held in constituencies in each of the four regions; Lubuli Inkhundla in the Lubombo region, Zombodze Inkhundla in the Shiselweni region, Motshane in the Hhohho region and Mangcongco in the Manzini region. More than 10 000 children attended the celebrations, from schools, pre-schools, neighbourhood care points and surrounding communities. Community leaders, NGOs, government partners, parents, care givers and teachers also came in their numbers to support these events. High level officials and stakeholders for children also participated in and supported the events. Two cabinet Ministers (Minister and Deputy Miniser for Regional Development and Youth Affairs), Regional Administrator for the Manzini region, who is also a senior Prince, and a well-known Pastor who is a very strong advocate for children’s rights, participated in the DAC celebrations. In addition, the director of the National Children’s Coordination Unit, UNICEF Representative, Director of Save the Children, head of the Police Domestic Violence and Child Protection Unit, and community leaders lent their support and guidance to the activities. The DAC celebrations demonstrated a high level of commitment and cooperation between government, UN agencies, regional stakeholders and communities. All four events were organized by the National Children’s Coordinating Unit in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Regional Development and Youth Affairs, UNICEF, Regional Management Sector Coordinators on HIV and AIDS, various NGOs, the Royal Swaziland Police Child Protection and Domestic Violence Unit, communities and teachers. But it was the children who were truly the stars of the DAC celebrations. Children directed the proceedings of each of the events, youth served as masters of ceremonies and a child representative in each region spoke on behalf of all children. Songs, poems, dances and drama presentations performed by children rounded out the events. Throughout each of these art forms, children creatively merged messages on violence. These messages raised awareness on the problem of violence against children and the need for prevention programmes. Focus on Violence Children’s Messages During the DAC celebrations, children were clad in T-shirts with the message “Listen to Children” written in the local language. Children declared clear messages against all forms of abuse. These messages and slogans were displayed on placards, and broadcast in song, poetry and drama. In all four regions, children depicted in dramas how they are exposed to sexual violence perpetrated by male relatives, teachers and neighbours. Physical and emotional violence perpetrated by teachers, step parents and care givers were also prominent subjects during the children’s performances. Children speaking on behalf of their peers highlighted HIV, AIDS and poverty as some of the challenges that frustrate them and prevent them from participating meaningfully at community level. “Children are engulfed by poverty which lowers their self-esteem, thus making them unable to participate fully in activities designed for them at community level,” said Sthembiso Mamba, a children’s representative speaking at Mangcongco Inkhundla in the Manzini region. Nokthula Sibandze, representing children from Lubombo region, pleaded with government to continue ensuring that every child receives an education. “In the next five years, we hope there will be no child staying at home because they cannot afford school fees. We also would like to plead with government for life skills education so that when children do not perform well at school, they can pursue other careers that require skills.” Mpendulo Ngwenya, representing children from Hhohho region, thanked UNICEF, the government, NGOs and all stakeholders for giving children the opportunity to voice out their grievances. Ngwenya also shared that many “at home have nothing to eat. Life for some of us is very difficult since we are always hungry and cannot fend for ourselves. Our basic needs are not met.” Children from all regions expressed appreciation of the efforts made by government, UNICEF, community volunteers and various NGOs to ensure that Swazi children enjoy their rights, especially their right to protection, education and health. Children’s Rights Speakers during the celebrations emphasized the need to clarify the issue of children’s rights and encouraged both children and parents to cooperate with one another to realize both the responsibilities and rights of every child. The director of Save the Children, Dumsani Mnisi, told the gathering that children’s rights are the basic needs that every child should enjoy. These rights include participation, education, protection, access to health services, food and shelter. “When we say children should participate in decision-making at home, we mean that children should contribute their ideas,” said Mnisi. “Parents may not always agree with everything children suggest, but the voice of a child should be taken into consideration. In return, children are expected to show respect and understand that parents will not agree with them all the time.” Addressing the crowds gathered for the DAC celebrations, UNICEF Representative, Dr. Jama Gulaid, emphasized that adults have many responsibilities, one of which is to ensure that children are protected from violence and abuse. “It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that children are safe at home, at school and in the community,” he said. Dr. Gulaid also emphasized that children have one major responsibility, which is to ensure that they protect themselves so that they remain an HIV free generation. To address the vulnerabilities of children that often lead to victimization, Dr. Gulaid announced that UNICEF Swaziland would invest $4.5 million U.S. to support a school-based programme to assist 350 primary schools in becoming schools as centres of care and support (SCCS). Targeted in 2008 and 2009, these schools would join an already existing network of schools which serve as more than simply learning centres for Swaziland children. SCCS schools provide other essential services to children such as safety and protection, psychosocial support, safe water and sanitation, sports, life skills and food security. The Manzini Regional Administrator, Prince Masitsela, addressed the DAC gathering at Mangcongco Inkhundla and spoke of another factor which makes Swazi children increasingly vulnerable to abuse, the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children. “It is disturbing to see the number of child headed households on the increase because of HIV and AIDS,” he said. Prince Masitsela appealed to the community to take care of orphans and vulnerable children and make them feel like a part of society. He called on parents to encourage children to participate in the social and economic development of the country because they also have something to contribute to the welfare of the nation. The Minister of Regional Development and Youth Affairs, Chief Sipho Shongwe, spoke at the celebration in Lubulini in the Lubombo region. Minister Chief Shongwe thanked UNICEF for supporting children’s initiatives in the country and encouraged children to respect themselves and their parents. In her speech at Zombodze Inkhundla in the Shiselweni region, Reverend MP Dlamini condemned the exposure of African children to abuse, especially abuse at the hands of family, teachers and community members. “Children need to be afforded participatory roles at home, school and community to enable them to acquire the knowledge and life skills necessary for their growth into responsible members of society.” said Rev. Dlamini. Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Youth Affairs, Hlobsile Ndlovu, addressed the crowd at Motshane in the Hhohho region. The Deputy Minister reported that more than 79,000 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) across the nation enroll at the primary school level, but only 32,000 OVC reach high school. She challenged the audience to consider what becomes of the 47,000 OVC who do not make it to high school. The sentiments of the 2008 DAC did not end with the regional celebrations on 19 July. Several partners have continued to host activities in connection with the Day of the African Child: SOS Children’s Village hosted DAC celebrations for the orphaned children living in the village; the Sport Olympic Council of Swaziland hosted Olympic day runs in four communities; the Council of Churches and Moneni community facilitated celebrations to commemorate DAC, to name but a few. A group of UNICEF staff children between the ages of four and seven years assisted in developing TV spots on children’s right to be heard. These spots appealed to all citizens to “Make Swaziland Fit for Children.” Partners continue to hold radio and TV talk shows on the DAC theme. Children will also be engaged in a symposium on what needs to be done to end violence against children. In the print media, partners have continued to support feature articles which capture children’s voices on the DAC theme and the problem of violence against children. Lessons Learnt Partners and stakeholders for children demonstrated essential commitment and ownership of the 2008 DAC activities. In previous years, UNICEF was solely responsible for organizing and facilitating DAC activities. However, in 2008, the newly formed National Children’s Coordination Unit played a major role in bringing partners together to plan and coordinate the regional activities in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Regional Development and Youth Affairs. The Regional Coordinators on HIV and AIDS also played a critical role since they work with the communities on a daily basis and have well-established community networks. Members of the children’s consortium such as Save the Children, World Vision, Khulisumntfwana, Swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People, Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse, Super Buddies, COSAD, Swaziland National Youth Council, Royal Swaziland Police – Domestic and Child Protection Unit and the Ministry of Education, also played pivotal roles in organizing logistics for the regional events. Communities donated food items and others volunteered to assist in preparation of food for the children who attended the events. Children interviewed after the activities expressed excitement at the opportunity to participate in these events. They emphasized the need to continue to be involved in decisions that affect them at school, home and the community. Children’s voices The following are quotes from Swazi children on what they enjoyed most or what they learned from the regional DAC celebrations. Jacob Alcock 15: I enjoyed the day so much especially dancing, singing and most important to learn that children have rights too. Anna Bhiya 10: I enjoyed the traditional dance, the poems, especially the drama that taught about children having a right to education so that they can grow up and help their parents. Siyabonga Mgabhi 13: I learnt a lot from the drama which depicted husband and wife physically abusing an orphaned child under their care that it is important to care for children whose parents have died. Noklunga Dlamini 9: I learnt that girls must not sleep around and that boy’s zippers should stay up and only go down when they pee. Ntsetselelo Dlamini 11: I learnt about the importance of participation at home and making choices. I do not participate fully in decisions made in my family but I made a choice for myself to work hard and pass at school. But I just wish my parents would listen to me and believe me when I tell them I have done my homework. They always accuse me of not studying and that I do not do my homework and the fact that they don’t believe me makes me feel very bad inside.
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