Other useful activities for children and youth

Teaching children and young people about their rights

Children in care have the right to be informed and heard in any matter affecting their lives, including all phases of moving out. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, they have the right “to express themselves freely, to be consulted and to have his/her views duly taken into account in accordance with his/her evolving capacities, and on the basis of his/her access to all necessary information. Every effort should be made to enable such consultation and information provision to be carried out in the child’s preferred language” Please see page six. African children are also protected by the African Children’s Charter. Here, Dr. Elvis Fokala explains how the two treaties are implemented in African households, and how caregivers and parents have an obligation to teach these rights to their children.

Activities to make children understand and practice their rights while in care

In daily activities, children should not only learn about their rights – they must also learn how to practice them in the family. How can this be done?

Here is a simple version of rights for children you can print and hang on the wall.

By presenting one right at a time and discuss what it means in the household, the children can understand the meaning. For example, you can present children’s right to be heard about their opinions. This means that they must participate and learn to agree about daily household decisions.

Activities for having a say in the daily household

For example, ask in a round what each child wants to make for dinner, and why they think this is good for the family’s health. Ask them not to interrupt each other, but to listen to each other. Then make a vote for the final decision. Tell them that if they can listen to each other and agree, they can decide. If not, you will make the decision. This model – learning to be heard, present your arguments, and agree by voting – can be used for any household decisions.

Work Plans Topic D: Group discussion for planning activities

There are so many tasks when starting life in the community, so please discuss and prioritize: what proposal for activities do you wish to start with? Then, make a plan adapted to your local needs.

Here is a summary you can choose from:

• Training practical household skills and games for young children or teenagers
• Activities to practice sustainable living and ecological gardening
• Teaching children and young people about their rights and how to practice them

When you have chosen a topic, please make a plan for how and when you will work with the topic.