It should not hurt to be an African Child
Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) commemorates 16 June the International Day of the African Child under the theme “30 years after the adoption of the Charter: accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for children”. The day reminds people of the roles an African child can play in changing society’s narratives. It also reminds every nation to renew its commitment to championing children’s rights against any form of discrimination and stigmatization.
Since 1991, the day of the African Child has been celebrated on 16 June every year to commemorate those killed during the Soweto Uprising on June 16, 1976. Hundreds were killed while marching as a way to demonstrate their disapproval of the Black Education Act, which segregated students based on their race. Due to the unprecedented pandemic of Covid-19, millions of children have undergone sexual, emotional, and physical abuse in Sub-Saharian Africa. This has been caused by economic instabilities, retrenchments, and poverty. Hence, many parents feel they have little or no alternative but to force their children to marry and operate on the streets which is not a solution.
Research shows that, of the 57 million primary school-age children currently out of school around the world, over half are from Sub-Saharan Africa. Though the present socio-legal system boasts of several constitutional mandates, international laws, treaties, child protection laws are all in the best interest of serving children in its democracy and the world at large, it is with no doubt that the mandates are being violated because the elites are taking advantage of the marginalized innocent souls. Moreover, children are seen surviving through the cold winds of neglect, and all kinds of misfortune and vile treatment. Every day they are seen with broken smiles that endure the painful kicking of their malnourished bellies protruding with dreams that may never see the light of conception. To help children, there is a need for a little kind word, a handful of promises, hearts of compassion, and smiles of hope.
The late anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, Nelson Mandela, once said:” There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children .” Therefore, like the moon and the sun, children are worth more than gold, and like the stars in the sky, they are worth more than diamonds and silver. Our children are our wealth,’ minerals’ that should be handled with care. The Day of the African Child is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the ongoing need to improve the education of children living across Africa. It’s a need that still very much exists. There is a saying,” investing in a child’s education is investing in a nation,” but the right to education of our children has been marginalized as inequalities in learning widen. With the introduction of online learning, marginalized children have been disadvantaged because of insufficient resources. This era of the digital divide has drawn lines between the poor and the elite. Therefore, with the Zimbabwean situation and the new curriculum of education for sustainable development, children should have their rights considered.
Moreover, for the betterment of our children, let’s abide by the sustainable development goals that were put forth by the United Nations. These SDGs include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, clean water and sanitation, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace and justice strong institutions that advocate for children’s rights.
At this juncture, MAYA alludes that generosity smiles at children, inside a child is embedded so many gifts and possibilities that the community needs to encourage. A child is not a force to be reckoned with, but a light that radiates and touches so many lives and changes them for the better. Day of the African Child, therefore, gives children the opportunity to hold their government leaders to account.
Email:manicayouthassembly@gmail.com
