Children: the best ambassadors for Children's rights
Bela* doesn't spend much time with other children her age. At school, the boys in her class tease her because she comes from a poor family. On Tuesdays, instead of attending class like other children, Bela sells candles in the church. She is obliged to work in order to help her family earn a living. Bela is 12 years old.
Her classmate Marketa says, “We learn in the same class and we [students] try to get closer to her, but she doesn't want us to get close. She feels ashamed because of what she does, and that keeps her apart from us.”
Marketa, also 12, is a student in the Kurbin Area Programme, part of World Vision’s newest Child Protection group established this past September. The group is taking steps to help Bela and other children like her understand their rights, value education and say no to child labour.
Marketa and 18 other members of the protection group presented a questionnaire to 500 children between the ages of 10 and 16, from four area schools.
“We think children’s rights are not respected the way they should be and many children do not know their rights. By analysing how much they know and what they don’t know, we can organise awareness activities and find good ways to help them recognise their rights, and prevent child labour somehow,” says Marketa.
The questionnaire revealed that almost all respondents know they have rights, but only 25 per cent of them could identify and name at least three. The majority of children were not aware that those from poor families have a right to receive support from the government. They were also not aware of their right to be protected from discrimination.
[Marketa delivering the questionnaire to her peers]
One month ago nearly 12,000 children from nine regions of Albania, including Kurbin, focused on the adoption of the Global Agenda – the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through learning activities children selected Gender Equality, Quality Education, Climate Action and more opportunities for Quality Education advocacy as the main themes and rights that require increased attention in the coming year.
Recently Bela has become part of World Vision’s Child Protection group at her school. She is rejoiced and become more optimistic and confident. The students have arranged for a monthly collection of clothes and food items from their own homes to help Bela’s family so that she can work less and have more time to attend school regularly.
Together with Bela the group are seeking more opportunities to advocate for child rights in their area. To reach children like Bela trained by World Vision the group is planning to meet regularly with the school psychologist and Child Protection Unit members to learn more about child rights and share their knowledge with peers. Children are also planning to organise activities in the city center and deliver leaflets with child rights awareness information.
*Bela is not a registered child in World Vision’s Sponsorship Programme. Her real name has been changed to protect her from any kind of bullying or emotional harm.