Children ‘taking over’ for a better future
Celebrating World Children's Day together
Several children, beneficiaries of projects implemented by UNICEF in Moldova, ‘took over’ by expressing their opinions and demanding that their rights be respected for a better future. The Kids Takeover events took place at the offices of UNICEF Moldova, Moldcell, as well as at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, on the occasion of the World Children's Day, celebrated on 20 November every year.
For Mădălina and Viviana, two students from Chișinău, the opportunity to meet with the team of UNICEF Moldova meant a good dose of confidence that the voice of children and young people matters and that every opinion can bring about good changes in all areas of life. During the discussion with UNICEF representatives, the two teenagers had the opportunity to ask various questions and express their views on the education system, development prospects in this country, observance of children's rights, the needs of refugee children from Ukraine, as well as how they see the implementation of UNICEF projects in Moldova.
‘A good number of teenagers leave Moldova because of the socio-economic situation in the country. If things improve, they will return home,’ said Mădălina, adding that she wants to study medicine abroad. ‘I felt really important because I had the chance to give suggestions for projects, and in this way, I can help other young people,’ she added. In her turn, Viviana, who is also president of the National Network of Pupils Councils of Moldova, said that meeting with the UNICEF team would help her achieve her goals. She went on saying, ‘I believe that in this way we will continue to work together. I got a surge of motivation, I saw many opportunities and chances for young people's voices to be heard and their problems to be solved.’
At the same time, the UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova, Maha Damaj, stressed the importance of World Children's Day. ‘We try to make this day a day to remember by celebrating children, showing their agency, abilities, and capacities to participate, lead and speak, and Kids Takeover is just one of the activities organised by UNICEF to this end. We always implement projects, and we don't wait for 20 November to follow up on our mission,’ said Maha Damaj.
As digitalisation takes off globally and encompasses the present and the future of every child, another Kids Takeover event took place at Moldcell, Moldova's digital telecom operator. Children of different age groups, as well as refugees from Ukraine, Africa, and a little girl with special needs, formed a real team that ‘took over.’ The company's new executives were introduced to the work of all divisions and learned who is behind the development of digital innovations, how the creative and sales process works, and how they can become professionals in this field.
For example, Andrei from Kharkiv, Ukraine, was impressed by the process of selling mobile phones, and Dumitru from Chișinău, Moldova, was surprised by the large number of employees and the workload. ‘I really appreciated sitting in that chair because I realised how many responsibilities a director has,’ Dumitru said.
‘It's important to have many points of view, and children have those ideas that are not frozen or bogged down by the stereotypes of adults. They come up with absolutely brilliant ideas,’ said Moldcell CEO, Carolina Bugaian.
Kids Takeover was also organised at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, where children took on the roles of heads of divisions, secretaries of state, and minister. Victoria, a 16-year-old who dreams of a career in political science, led a meeting as minister, where each division representative reported on the results achieved, the challenges faced, and the work to be done.
The children were also able to gain an understanding of some of the work processes within the Ministry, provide some instructions, as well as learn about relevant information, such as employment opportunities for teenagers, how to seek help from the authorities if their rights are not being upheld, and how adoption takes place at national and international level.
‘Before attending this event, I thought everything was much easier. Today, I found out that it is enormous work. This has made me more motivated to finish my studies and improve people's lives,’ says Victoria, a Kids Takeover participant. ‘Children should sometimes be allowed to 'take over' because they are much more direct and honest. A child will tell you what the problem is in no uncertain terms, and we will be able to find a solution much more quickly,’ said Alexandru Iacub, Secretary General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Kids Takeover is one of UNICEF's most important activities on World Children's Day, expressing our commitment to a day of action for children, by children. Such events become a way for every child to demonstrate their right to be heard, to participate, and to play an active role in their society.
World Children's Day is a global holiday celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Thus, for 33 consecutive years, on 20 November, UNICEF aims to highlight critical issues affecting children around the world and support their and young people's commitment to their rights. Regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other status, every child has the right to be accepted and protected from all forms of discrimination.
