Taking school supplies and love to marginalised children in Nigeria

On November 20 the world celebrated Universal Children’s Day to emphasise international togetherness and raise awareness of children’s rights.

The date marks the day the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) in 1989. This year’s theme centred on “promoting children’s welfare and children’s rights.”

A World at School Global Youth Ambassadors in Nigeria, alongside 15 partner organisations, including Youth Power Initiative and Zariah Foundation, commemorated this day by reaching out to internally displaced persons (IDPs), orphans and marginalised children in Abuja, as well as children with various forms of disabilities (inclusive) in Lagos with basic educational materials (exercise books, pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers, rulers,) clothes, shoes, love and much affection.

We commemorated Universal Children’s Day by helping children who miss out of school and learning. We want to ensure that their basic human rights, including the right to education, are upheld.

Sakinatu,13, said: “Education is important to me because I have learnt more about how to become a good citizen in my country.”

Asiya, 15, said: “Education helps young people to know their right as citizens of any country and also enlightens ones behaviour.”

Blessing, 13, said: “We should be educated to become valuable in future.”

As Global Youth Ambassadors, children are at the centre of our world and our legacy is to ensure children succeed grown-ups. We are here to give children a reason to be hopeful.

Children are the future. They are central to the success of every nation.

Children could be gifted, talented, skilled, out-of-school, orphaned, vulnerable or disabled, white or black, but they should be treated equally and accorded their fundamental human rights.

It is for this reason GYAs in Nigeria have taken a stand to ensure the voice of every Nigerian child is heard!

We are #UpForSchool.

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