The Day of the African Child, celebrated every year on June 16, is a day to celebrate the resilience of children and to reflect on the progress that has been made across Africa in ensuring their rights.
The day commemorates a protest on June 16, 1976, when thousands of schoolchildren in South Africa protested against poor educational conditions and the introduction of Afrikaans as teaching language. A protest that ended in violence and cost the lives of many children and young people.
In the meantime, the African Charter, a document with 48 articles describing the rights and duties of children in Africa, was created at the instigation of the African Union. It serves as a guideline for governments and communities and ensures the protection, survival, development and participation of children in society. By recognizing children as bearers of rights, it calls on governments to comply with these fundamental provisions.
Our children from the Maisha Mazuri Children Home, the MMP program and the entire Maisha Mazuri Primary School also took part in the parade in Tala. Beforehand, they created posters and banners highlighting the issues that are particularly close to their hearts.
