Six Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund beneficiaries returned from the inaugural Africa Children’s Summit
Children at the inaugural Africa Children’s Summit drafted a statement representing views, which will be used to inform deliberations at the African Union and the United Nations Offices focusing on children rights.
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund beneficiary Shaylet Sibanda feels empowered after attending the inaugural Africa Children’s Summit in Kenya.
This forum is a continental initiative driven by children from Kenya to give children a platform for participation and to have their voices heard on child-related issues.
Sibanda said matters discussed at the summit included poverty, education, and health care.
CEO Dr Linda Ncube-Nkomo added the summit aligns with the organisation’s goals to enhance child participation in decisions that continue to affect them.
“Children in South Africa and other parts of the world face a myriad of challenges, including high unemployment, poverty, education inequality, lack of access to mentorship programmes, etc. At the summit, children had the opportunity to raise some of the issues and provide child-led solutions with the theme of ‘Seen, Heard, Engaged’.”
The group from South Africa joined others from the continent and made presentations, as well as contributions on the unique challenges they face, interventions by their governments and shared recommendations or solutions.
Another beneficiary, Segopotso Marine, added, “The trip to Kenya was a once-in-a-lifetime experience; I appreciate that the summit was planned by children who had a common goal in the end.
Vice-chair at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Prof. Phillip Jaffer noted that he and other stakeholders heard the voices of the children of Africa and would take their messages of wanting to be seen and heard to the United Nations.
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