A child protection and development organisation called The Rural Child (RC), on Sunday commemorated the 2020 Universal Children’s Day in Mandinaba, Kombo East of West Coast Region (WCR).
The event, held in the form of a forum, was attended by mothers and fathers, teachers, child protection experts, security officials, youth empowerment and development advocates, human rights advocates as well as civil society activists who discussed issues that could amplify the welfare and protection of children in the country.
Established in 1954, Universal Children’s Day is observed on November 20 every year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children’s welfare.
However, countries across the world celebrate Children’s Day on different dates, which also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children’s rights.
In the Gambia, Mr. Amadou Jallow, Coordinator of The Rural Child, told the commemorative gathering at Mandinaba that they (RC) commemorated the UCD because of the expressed interest they have in child protection and development. He added their main focus is how to bridge the opportunity and access to information gaps between rural and urban children.
Jallow urged parents to allocate maximum time to their children so as to focus on their education. This, he held, would prepare children to become responsible adults (tomorrow), occupying public positions to advance the socio-economic development of their communities and the country.
The child welfare organisation’s chief further said rural children need encouragement and mentorship to understand the way of life and inspire them to fully participate in their personal growth and development. Jallow called on the government of the Gambia and private institutions to direct their focus on the empowerment and development of rural children.
As part of the commemoration, the organisation presented educational materials and advanced clinical thermometers to its sponsored students, [made possible] through a partnership with American International University West Africa (AIUWA). Additionally, it presented more than one hundred human rights booklets which were provided by Beakanyang Human Rights Organisation in the Gambia.
Jallow thanked Brikama Area Council (BAC) for supporting the commemoration; AIUWA for supporting the organisation’s student sponsorship package; and Beakanyang for providing the booklets.
Addressing the Mandinaba gathering, the National Coordinator of Child Protection Alliance (CPA), Mr. Lamin Fatty, congratulated The Rural Child on the commemoration, and reassured the pro-children organisation of CPA’s support at all times, in the protection and development of children.
Fatty appealed for parents to allow their children have access to quality and sustainable education in order to participate in building strong and vibrant institutions in the country, and even beyond.
Chairman of Mandinaba Village Development Committee (VDC), Mr.Yahya Njie commended the organisation for commemorating this important Day, adding children need special attention from parents, which could enable them to reach their full potential and contribute to the development of their communities, and the country at large.
The Rural Child’s Secretary and Human Rights Officer, Alhagie Jassey, and one of its members, Mr. Yusupha Bojang, respectively both expressed the organisation’s commitment to stand by children and prepare them for the future.
