Universal Children's Day

Universal Children’s Day is celebrated at the Peace Islands Institute in partnership with INGOs, professional speakers, community leaders, teen-child advocates and students on November 20, 2012. Universal Children’s Day symposium is dedicated to raise awareness to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal # 2: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The Universal Children’s Day being a day devoted to the welfare of children all over the world calls for ideals in promoting peace, education and support in reaching out to children in less privilege situations of the world. 

The symposium is organized and sponsored by Peace Island Institute, (FEACOBA) Friends of Education for African Children Orphaned by AIDS Inc., Journalists & Writers Foundation, Working Group on Girls at the United Nations, African Women Good Governance, Center for Organizational Development, Voices of Women Worldwide & TV and African Views.

In his opening remarks; “We are concerned about the children who are from less privileged parts of the world; especially in Africa, and children who are orphaned by AIDS who do not have an opportunity to obtain basic education” said Mehmet Kilic, Director of the Center for Global Affairs at the Peace Islands Institute. 

The program included professional speakers who have been active in the promotion of educational initiatives in less privileged parts of the world, especially in Africa. The panel discussed problems of the world children and child, teen and adult advocates provided solutions how to eliminate ignorance and lack of universality of education in Africa. In the example of Japan, collectiveness and pride of the Japanese people helped them overcome many problems after the WWII. 

Dr. Ada Okika, Executive Director of the FEACOBA reminded the audience about United Nations’ 67^th General Assembly, where UN Secretary-General Mr.  Ban Ki-Moon launched the Education First Initiative which aims to raise the political profile of education, strengthen the global movement to achieve quality education and generate additional and sufficient funding through sustained advocacy efforts.

The Education Fist Initiative  strongly emphasizes education as a major driving force for human development which  opens doors to the job market, combats inequality, improves maternal health, reduces child mortality, fosters solidarity, and promotes environmental stewardship, empowers people with the knowledge, skills and values they need to build a better world. Ban Ki-Moon’s Education First Initiative’s priorities are put all children in school, improve the quality of education and foster global citizenship in order to tackle with global issues.

Sharon Doctor, Board Chair of FEACOBA serves as the United Nations Representative for World Mission Foundation. She addressed the educational needs of less privilege and children orphaned by AIDS. Sharon Doctor explicated the reasons why children whose parents are HIV/AID positive are vulnerable in access to educational and social programs offered in underdeveloped countries. Culture and tradition play a tremendous role in people’s attitude towards children orphaned by AIDS.

Yusuf Ziya Yildirim, former Deputy Director of Omeriye Foundation, talked about the educational initiatives in Kenya. Turkish educators and entrepreneurs have established Light Academy schools which promote sustainable educational program and benefit African children and youth in many different ways. Mr. Yildirim discussed how Kenyan students have been successful in the Light Academy Schools established. Students in these high and elementary schools are admitted through a very competitive process. Only those who excel in Kenyan national standardized test can apply to the schools. About %25 of the top applicants are granted scholarships to cover all the expenses, while remaining applicants other types of financial assistance. Some of the successful alumni have been admitted to the top Western universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and returned back to Kenya after receiving bachelor’s degrees. Many students of the schools are granted scholarships to study in prestigious universities in Turkey. 

Not only did the Omeriye Foundation establish successful schools, but it has also founded health programs which brought volunteer surgeons from Turkey to Kenya that served medical needs of the local population. Since its establishment, hundreds of surgeons have operated in Kenya and made their services available to the people in need for free. 

Later on, Rwandan dance performance by Marie Claudine Mukamabano brought energy to the program. Marie Claudine Mukamabano is an Ambassador of Peace to the United Nations from Rwanda. Marie is one of the most vibrant genocide survivors and has become a voice for Rwanda. She was born and raised in a large village in Kigali. Before her performance, she showed a pair of shoes and a dozen of pencils to the audience, and said: “These are very important for African children; pair of shoes and pencil. Children are not allowed in schools with them. I encourage you to help African children so that they can go to school.”

Chukwudi Onyejiukwa, a Nigeian born child advocate of FEACOBA, talked about neglecting education of children from less privilege situations. His speech touched upon three dimensions; the adverse effect of neglect on development and child rights, the need to raise adequate support and campaigns to help reach out to children and to encourage their future and children from poor homes, orphans, single parents, poor widows, and abandoned children who do not get good education or education at all. 

He started his speech with a question: “Why do you think that some African parents send their children out of Africa to countries such as America, France, Germany, England, and Spain?” His answer was because the education standards and criteria is not that adequate as other countries. It is important to note that in Africa these children are smart but lack adequate school supplies. African leaders should embark on building more modern schools and equip them adequately.  According to some statistics, as many as 8 million kids are out of school in Nigeria. East Africa has high initial primary enrollment rates 90% but loses 30-40% of students before they leave primary school.

Christina Selby, teen advocate for the Workig Group on Girls at the United Nations talked about universal education limitations on the girl child. She spoke about the importance of girls' education not only for learning but also for empowerment and confidence, which can save them from early marriage and teen pregnancy. She said that girls have lower possibility of getting in to school compared to boys. Poverty and hunger kept girls at home to take care of the family by doing house work, cleaning, and raising siblings. Gender disparity impacts on girls’ education in underdeveloped countries where girls get married at younger ages and have children.

Mr. Robert Fish, director of Education and Lecture Programs at Japan Society, explained how Japan achieved a universal education for its citizens. Enrollment for the elementary and middle schools in Japan is almost %100 and all of these students complete the school, meaning that the dropout rate is almost zero. What was fascinating about the statistics Mr. Fish has presented was that almost %100 of girls in Japan were enrolled in elementary and middle schools. He argued that Japan has achieved this incredible success due to the using, not copying, other countries’ education strategies. They have brought many education experts to help to establish and implement innovative strategies for achieving a universal education. Japan has gone through all sorts of difficulties after the World War II such as poverty and hunger, poor educational opportunities, environmental issues, etc. Now, Japan is the second richest country among Asian countries and third wealthiest country in the world. Japan is a great success story which can be studied by developing countries and modified to their educational needs. 

During the Children’s Conversation Circle, students from Garvey School in the Bronx came to the front with their remarks and solutions to the problems of the world children. They are very passionate to help children with less privilege by organizing fund raising events in their school. They said that children in the US should be included in the process of helping with the needs of the children in Africa because they can understand the children much better than adults; it’s about childhood feelings. 

June O’Conner’s made a presentation on successful empowerment model in achieving universality for all children. In her presentation, Ms. O’Conner was not satisfied with the option of schooling for her daughter; thus, she wanted to initiate a school which can benefit her daughter and the rest of the community who feels the same way. She implemented strategic plans to establish a nursery through 8th grade school - the Garvey School in the Bronx. 

Children coming from low income families do score lower grades in the subject matter due to lack of quality education and tutoring for their kids. Even though Bronx Technical High School is there to provide quality education in the Bronx, more than 60 % of the population is Asian and 30 % are white and only 8 % of the student population are African American kids. This statistic shows that quality schools do not serve students with less privilege situation in the US. The Board of Education has come up with solutions to help students and families who are disadvantaged due to their socio-economic standing.  

Lastly, Dr. Mars Custodio talked about best practices in achieving universality of education and Education First Initiative for AIDS orphans. Dr. Mars Custodio is the chairman to the Board of the Asian-Pacific Island Coalition on HIV/AIDS and Co-Chair of the NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS at the United Nations. Dr. Mars Custodio is an oncologist who has helped many people throughout the world in the treatment of illnesses related to AIDS. There are many challenges in the treatment of people with AIDs in less privilege parts of the world due to financial problems, lack of appropriate hospitals and facilities, and people’s attitude towards AIDS related illnesses. Most of the men do not want to be tested if they carry HIV that can be transmitted to their family members. If people are HIV positive, they are being alienated by the society at large. This creates disadvantage for children and children’s educational needs if their parents are HIV positive. 

Faye Feller from Voice of Women Worldwide introduced “Chimi’s Dream” animation which aims to teach children to cherish our beautiful planet Earth and make our world a place where man and nature can live in harmony! This can only happen when man learns to respect nature's boundaries. Chimi's World hopes to spread the message of universal participation of children to make the earth a better place for our generation and the generations after us. 

The program concluded with a Thanksgiving luncheon dedicated to Universal Children’s Day. It has become a day of awareness, collaboration, networking and building friendship for universal peace.