WHAT IS CHILD PARTICIPATION?
At Similar Ground, we understand Child Participation as a way where all children can discuss and co-decide on all matters that affect them, like family, school, community matters, government policies, legal policies. It means that their voices are being heard. This is crucial for the realization of children’s rights and also one of the core principals of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
WHY IS CHILD PARTICIPATION IMPORTANT TO US?
- Child participation is positive for the development of children and youth; it increases self-esteem and self-believe.
- Child participation has a positive impact on the community engagement and active citizenship, children can co-decide on matters that affect them directly.
- Children have the right to be heard and they have the right to access information.
WHAT DOES SIMILAR GROUND DO?
Child participation is the key to everything we does. We believes in the power of children and sees children as changemakers. We support local communities through training and formation of Committee such as child protection, Reports, Community Mobilisers and others to develop and strengthen child participation in their communities.
Similar Ground offers children an international platform and supports them to speak out and stand up for their rights. We do this through our Music for social change program , school clubs and International Children’s Networks.
We also published a report on child participation. This report, Child Participation: From Rights to Reality, focuses exclusively on child participation and gives examples of our Music for social change program , school clubs and International Children’s Networks.