RICNET FACILITATE CHILDREN TO CELEBRATE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

The day of the African child is celebrated annually on 16^th June in memory  of the black children who were shot dead in South Africa because they were protesting against   poor education and the need to be taught in their local language .The day was instituted in 1991 by the organization of African unity (OAU) in memory of the children and other people who were killed and several injured in the Soweto uprising in South Africa in 1976 .The day also arises need for improved education for the African child  .The theme for this year was accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunities for children.

Rwenzori region celebrated the day at Kitarasa primary school in Kabarole district .

The celebrations were attended by many people who included local leaders ,civil society organizations, community members and a number of schools attended the event with children presenting messages about their rights, violence against them, need to be supported by their families among others .Among the schools that participated in the celebrations was Kyabikere primary school ,a school  located in the hard to reach , hilly areas that border Uganda and Congo in Bwera –Kasese district .RIC-NET supported the pupils of this school to attend this event  to expose children to new environment ,give them an opportunity to interact with other children and also give them a bigger platform to share  issues that concern them(children' rights ,violence against children ,discrimination) .Kyabikere primary school is one of the schools under the project “community driven approaches to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese district . 

 

Pupils of Kyabikere P/S presenting their song

The guest of honor at the celebrations Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard the LCV chairperson Kabarole district in his remarks thanked the civil society organizations that organized the celebrations as this makes children feel valued .He further highlighted the same challenges that children in Uganda and Africa continue to face as : parents adamantly fail to provide for their children on the excuse of poverty when they spend all they have in alcoholism , children continue to offer cheap labour in tea  plantations and fishing sites to support themselves and their families and children being forced into early marriages to become mothers at a very tender age.He urged parents and guardians to avoid this and also put into action what the children sighted out in their presentations in order to have a better generation in the future . 

 The guest of honor giving his remarks

 The organizations that organized the celebrations include :Save the children ,RWECO ,KAANA foundation, BANTWANA ,RIC-NET, KALI ,FURA , GOOD HOPE , RIDE-AFRICA ,YAHWE ,SOS children villages Fortportal , ACODEV , compassion International among others .

RIC-NET staff at the celebrations