“We are the future generation, called for to show his excellency. All what we require LitClub has shown me, I know who I am, I know how to read and write, sharing and viewing, I know who I am. I am walking in power, I walk in success, I live a life of reading, I am not ignorant.”
This inspiring anthem was echoed by our amazing LitClub Members during the Day of African Child Celebrations in Zambia!
This year, LitWorld’s amazing partner, GoYe Therefore Zambia (GYT), celebrated the Day of the African Child under the theme “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First”. During that week, coincidently, the LitClub members were learning about the Universal Declaration on the Rights of the Child and were developing their Community Bill of Rights. Therefore, this day presented a great opportunity for them to share their learnings with other kids in the schools in such an awesome celebration!
The Nyanzabili LitBoys and LitGirls made the most out of the exciting activities that were planned for the Day of the African Child celebrations!
The Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the OAU Organization of African Unity. It honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
“The LitClub members were excited with the presentation about the Day of the African Child and sharing the Rights of the Child during the celebrations for the International Day of the Child. It was also exciting to read out the Universal Declaration on the Rights of the Child and know and understand what rights they had despite not knowing them well,”
said Sanyambe Mweemba, the Partnership Coordinator for GoYe, expressing her excitement on the children’s overwhelming participation on that day.
Students perform traditional dancing for the big day!
A lot of LitClubs celebrated the event through poems & songs (written by them), dances, role plays and advertising children’s rights messages with paintings on stones, walls and trash bins. About 500 children and adults attended the activities that were presented by the LitClub members and GYT. This granted LitMembers the opportunity to sensitize other children within their school environment on children’s rights including teachers and parents from the community.
Other activities included an Anthem Presentation under the theme “My comic book: Welcome to my world.” In Welcome to my World, kids were identifying the kind of world they want to live in. Many of the LitClub members’ world was within their comfort zone and within the country, while others preferred to explore the whole world and this gave them hope to know what other countries are like.
Little Grace wants to visit England some day; Christine wants a big house and a happy life in her world; Joshua wants a big mansion; Alex wants everything, and he wants to see the tallest building like the Twin Towers of America; and Aaron wants to explore new things! - shared Sanyambe
Here’s to a future of hope, curiosity and belonging for LitKids and communities all around the world! To participate in our #SummerofStrengths campaign, head over to our social media to share your stories!