Day of the African Child at Palmarin

The 26th Day of the African Child was celebrated Thursday 16 June, with the theme: 'Conflicts and crises in Africa: let us protect the rights of children'.

World Vision Senegal chose to mark the occasion on Saturday 18 June in Palmarin at the municipal stadium, taking advantage of the opportunity to:

• Inform communities and raise awareness about the disastrous consequences of violence towards children and their negligence and mistreatment;
• Share experiences and good practice for protecting the rights of children and measures to prevent abuse;
• Advocate for the total care of children's needs, especially the most vulnerable;
• Fight injustice towards children that deprives them of their fundamental rights.

Events of the day took place in the presence of the Prefect of Fatick Mr Badara Diallo, the Sub-Prefect of Fimela Mr Marcel Mbaye Thiaw, the Mayor of Palmarin Mr Louis Seck, the representative of Inspector Mamadou Faye, as well as other dignitaries such as the representatives of the Minister of Early Childhood and the Minister of Culture, the representative of pupils' parents and the 'J'aime rêver' Association, who were all also in attendance for the day.

Strong turnout by children

Children of the communities of Fimela, Niakhar, Tattaguine, Diakhao, Fatick, and Palmarin turned out in large numbers to the municipal stadium to celebrate the day.

The ceremony got underway with the National Gendarmerie raising the flag, followed by addresses by various representatives, performances by children, mothers singing acompanied by Serer drum rhythms, and demonstrations by the Palmarin football school and the Taekwondo club.

Commitment of the administrative authorities towards protecting children

The authorities present all reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen protection procedures. The Mayor of Palmarin Mr Louis Seck had played a part in the local authorities' efforts towards this by establishing a local protection committee, opening an opportunity centre for marginalised children and a specialised education centre with the cooperation of the 'J'aime rêver' Association. Mr Seck concluded by thanking World Vision for coordinating all aspects of the day.

The Prefect of Fatick Mr Badara Diallo underlined the commitment of the State of Senegal to further protect children, with the ratification of almost every international convention and protocol relating to child rights and protection. Equally Mr Diallo launched an appeal to all parents and partners to strengthen their efforts and actions to make the case in daily life for child protection and the improvement of their conditions. To this end the Prefect praised World Vision for 'leveraging progress' through the constancy of its actions, the energy of its commitment and its dedication to the child well-being.

Address of the World Vision representative 

The head of the World Vision central zone (covering the regions of Fatick, Kaffrine et Diourbel), Mrs Marie Louise Diouf, made a plea for the whole community to rally round a commitment to guarantee children have a birth certificate, vaccinations at the right ages, a chance to learn to read before the age of 11, and protection against all forms of abuse, mistreatment and exploitation. Mrs Diouf also requested the support of the whole community to shelter children from hunger, malnutrition, rape and early marriage.

Furthermore, Mrs Diouf recalled the endeavours of World Vision Senegal in this area with the establishment of 471 Village Committees for Child Protection (CVPEs) of which 123 are in the Department of Fatick, and 10 Local Committees for Child Protection (CLPEs). World Vision has also supported the creation of a CDPE presided over by the Prefect of the Department of Fatick. Mrs Diouf also reminded the audience that World Vision had invested nearly 40 000 000 FCFA into child protection in the 13 municipalities of the regions of Fatick and Kaffrine.

She also appealed to the State to continue to provide support through technical services so that this investment would not have been in vain.

'Children let us be free and responsible'

Through their representative Ms Amy Gning, the children thanked World Vision as a 'privileged partner of Senegalese schools' for all its efforts to protect children and improve their well-being. She called on all leaders of the State, schools, mosques, churches and more, as well as project partners to unite their efforts to put an end to all forms of abuse and mistreatment of children. The children, buoyed by the awareness of their rights and enthusiastic about improving their prospects, summed up their aspirations in the slogan 'Children, let us by free and responsible!'

All of these events enabled us to celebrate the Day of the African Child. The large attendance of the community of Palmarin shows in many respects their commitment alongside World Vision for child protection.

World Vision works daily to improve the well-being of 8 million children by 2021.