‘Unite for our children’ call to Seychellois |21 May 2009

The call comes from the National Council for Children (NCC), which is planning a series of activities in support of children’s rights to be held during Child Protection Week from Sunday May 24-Monday June 1.

It will launch the week on Sunday at the Children’s Arc, Bel Eau, and activities will include the annual exhibition at the Training and Therapy Centre, which will showcase the development and achievements of the NCC since its creation in 1979.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Sunday May 24 (1pm-5pm) until Saturday    May 30 at noon. On weekdays it will be open from 8.30am-3.30pm.

The council also plans to hold education workshops at district level with parents and community leaders taking part.

The objectives of Child Protection Week are to raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection, including child abuse prevention, treatment, research education, service provision and support for children, young people and families.

NCC director Ruby Pardiwalla said: “The NCC strongly believes in education and training to empower people. In recent years we have been instrumental in promoting the rights of the child, and training and educating professionals working with children.”

The theme Unite for Children is in line with this year’s national theme Koste Seselwa (Come Together Seychellois), she added.

“Unity is the thread that runs through the fabric of the NCC, and it is among the core values we stress,” she said.

“We have also chaperoned many living values projects to beautify most schools in the country.”

The NCC was formed shortly after the International Year of the Child was launched in 1979 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). Its first projects were to set up the Children’s Playground in Victoria and to organise the first national Children’s Day here on June 1, 1979.

Among its other successes have been the idea for the first Children’s Act, the launch of the President’s Village, the Treasury Home and the Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled, as well as the Youth Rehabilitation Training Centre.

Mrs Pardiwalla said this year is an auspicious one for children as it will also see the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force on November 20, 1989.