COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON DAY OF THE AFRICA CHILD IN ADO-EKITI
AND IKERE-EKITI, EKITI STATE.
THEME: 30 YEARS AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER: ACCELERATE
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 2040 FOR AN AFRICA FIT FOR CHILDREN.
Day of the
African child is celebrated every 16th of June yearly. In 1976 In
Soweto, South Africa, thousands of black schoolchildren took to the streets to
protest about the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right
to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of them were shot down; and in the
two weeks of protest that followed, more than a hundred people were killed and
more than a thousand injured. To honour their courage and in memory of those
killed, in 1991 the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union)
established the DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD.
Today June 16, 2021, staffs of GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR KIDS INITIATIVE took it upon
themselves to commemorate the day with the staffs and
student C.A.C comprehensive high school
Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti.
The staffs arrived the school premises at exactly
7:10am also the media man was on ground to cover the programme after which we
met with the principal and we are warmly
welcome by her and instruct the school vice principal to led us to the assembly
ground. We met the student with the staffs on the assembly ground after their
devotion we are invited to address the student. We then gave a brief
introduction about GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR KIDS INITIATIVE and what we do. Emmanuel
Subair the programme officer then enlightens the student about DAY OF THE AFRICA CHILD.
Also Miss. Adebisi Olamiposi
monitoring and evaluation officer enlightens the student on the topic of the
day ‘PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE’.
Explaining to them WHAT
IS ABUSE? Reading from her prepared research on the topic stating that ABUSE is the
improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain
benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal
maltreatment, injury, assault violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or
other types of aggression.
WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?
Child
sexual abuse is a form of child abuse that includes sexual activity with a
minor. And explained who minors are. A child cannot consent to any form of
sexual activity. When a perpetrator
engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have
lasting effects on the victim for years. Listing forms of child sexual abuse
which include, deliberate
exhibition or exposing oneself to a minor, Fondling,
Intercourse e.t.c.
Miss. Olamiposi Adebisi also made mention of the physical and behavioral signs to know if someone is sexually abuse. She further explain to
the student things to know to prevent themselves from been sexually abuse. She
stated the following which are:
Ø
Be properly informed about sexual
abuse, that is no one should touch your private parts and never be force to
touch someone else private part. And if that happens inform your parent or
guardians.
Ø Always ensure you
stay in a safe and protective environment. You don’t have to stay alone once
you suspected the place is not safe and don’t visit a friend place alone
especially when.
Ø
Have a safety language or signs to
alert people if you suspect sexual abuse.
After the sensitization, the student and teacher were
delighted about the topic treated and the staffs of Global support for kids
initiative met with the principal of the school Mrs. G.F OMOLE to appreciate
her for the opportunity given to us and also had an interview with her.
Also, after first presentation at C.A.C comprehensive high school Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti, the staffs
of GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR KIDS INITIATIVE went to Ikere-Ekiti to commemorate the day with the staffs and students of femTECH ACADEMY, SECONDARY SCHOOL
IKERE-EKITI, EKITI STATE.
The staffs arrived the school premises at exactly 10:30am
also the media man was on ground to cover the programme. On getting to the
place, we meet with the students and all guest participants getting ready for
the programme. The programme started at exactly 11:00am with the opening prayer
made by one of the invited parent, after which the master of ceremony took to
the stage by inviting the guest of honor to the high table, In which the staffs
of Global support for kids initiative were also invited. The principal gave his speech by declaring
the event open after which Emmanuel Subair the programme officer then gave them
a brief introduction about GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR KIDS INITIATIVE and what we do,
also enlighten them about DAY OF THE
AFRICA CHILD.
The debate competition then took place between two
schools, which is the host school femTECH and the guest school, ikere high
school while the debate was coordinated by the guest of high table. After
several point from both debaters they host school won with 234 point while
ikere high school scored 193 point. They
were all given prizes for participating. Also there was poem recitation as part
of the programme activity.
Furthermore, some students participate in beauty
pageant, looking out for who will emerge as MR & MISS. DAC 2021. After so
many dancing, parading and questions MR. & MISS. DAC 2021 was crowned.
After that one of the guests of honour gave a talk about morals and building a
career. He explains to the student on choosing a career.
Also Miss. Adebisi Olamiposi monitoring and evaluation
officer of Global support for kids initiative talked on the theme for this year
DAY OF THE
AFRICAN CHILD. THEMED: 30 YEARS AFTER
THE ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER: ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 2040 FOR
AN AFRICA FIT FOR CHILDREN. She took her time to dwell much on
the agenda propagate by the African committee of expert
on the rights and welfare of the child (ACERWC) which is “Agenda 2040:
Fostering an Africa fit for children”.
She explained to the entire
audience each of the aspirations and what each of them tend to achieve by the
year 2040.she made mentioned that the Agenda sets out ten solid aspirations to
be achieved by the year 2040 and provides brief backgrounds with a deep insight
on specific issues.
The ten aspirations are the
following:
- Aspiration 1: The African Children’s
Charter, as supervised by the African Children’s Committee, provides an
effective continental framework for advancing children’s rights
- Aspiration 2: An effective child-friendly
national legislative, policy and institutional framework is in place in
all Member States
- Aspiration 3: Every child’s birth and
other vital statistics are registered
- Aspiration 4: Every child survives and has
a healthy childhood
- Aspiration 5: Every child grows up
well-nourished and with access to the basic necessities of life
- Aspiration 6: Every child benefits fully
from quality educatio00n
- Aspiration 7: Every child is protected
against violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse
- Aspiration 8: Children benefit from a
child-sensitive criminal system
- Aspiration 9: Every child is free from the
impact of armed conflicts and other disasters or emergency situations
- Aspiration 10: African children’s views
matter
Following the explanation of the agenda 2040, the
school choir came up on stage to render a song that was centered on child’s
right.
Miss. Elizabeth odion ,the child protection officer
then engage the student in a seminar on child Abuse and child right, she
explain further to the student their rights as a child and also educate then on
areas they shouldn’t allow people to touch in their body. She lay emphasis on
the need to alert people when they suspected any form of child abuse.
After the training /seminar, the students came forward
to present a drama which centered on child marriage, they pass a message the
audience on dangers of getting a child married, and also the negligent and
selfishness of the parent and the punishment that follows was also point out.
After the drama presentation, doughnuts and drinks was
served as a menu for the day, pictures were taken and ground was opened for
everyone to dance.
The programme was brought to an end with closing prayer from Miss Elizabeth Odion.
