World Children’s Day: Ensuring children’s say in decisions affecting their future crucial

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in 

BHOPAL: On the occasion of World Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20, UNICEF Madhya Pradesh organised a special event in Bhopal to launch the State of the World’s Children (SOWC) report 2024.

This year’s children’s day theme, ‘Listening to the Future’, underscored the importance of ensuring children have a say in decisions affecting their future.

As part of its commitment to empowering children, UNICEF Madhya Pradesh invited young participants from Dhar and Bhopal at its Bhopal office to launch the report.

“Having children in our office to put forward their on matters relating to their future is truly what celebrating the World Children’s Day is all about,” said Anil Gulati, UNICEF Madhya Pradesh’s Communication Specialist.

He spoke about the State of the World Children Report 2024 and on World Children's Day and why it is important to focus on climate change.

The event brought together over 35 children who unveiled, discussed, and reflected the 2024 report titled ‘The Future of Childhood in a Changing World.

The event began with a creative activity where children expressed their thoughts on pollution and climate change through art. Pooja Singh, Social Policy Specialist and Narendra Singh, WASH officer spoke to children on demographics and climate change.

The UNICEF team listened to the voices of adolescents and their experience on climate change and the way they see the world. Adolescents from Dhar, Bhopal, cadets of Bharat Scouts & Guides and students of SHIM were present.

Dr Prashanth Kumar Health Specialist, Pushpa Awasthy Nutrition Officer and other officers of UNICEF team were present at the launch.

The children learned about the report’s key findings, including global and national youth population projections for 2050 and other vital issues affecting children worldwide.

A group discussion followed the report’s launch, focusing on pressing global issues such as climate change, pollution, and resource conservation. The children actively shared their thoughts and posed thought-provoking questions to UNICEF experts.

One MBA student from SHIM emphasised the urgency of addressing global warming, stating, “Burn negativity, not Earth. Our generation is the first one to experience global warming. Hence, it is our responsibility to undertake steps to combat the issues at hand.”

Several participants highlighted initiatives they are involved in. One student shared her experience with water harvesting project aimed at addressing summer water shortages in her villages. She also shared her experience with spreading awareness about harvesting among other young children and adults, alike. Similarly, many children shared their involvement with promotion of sustainable practices in their community, reflecting the proactive role many young attendees are already playing.

The children raised questions on diverse topics, including alternatives to polythene, electronic waste management, reducing institutional paper usage, and strategies for maintaining plants in water-scarce villages. UNICEF experts offered practical suggestions, such as e-waste recyclers, using cloth based products, reusing and recycling of paper, and implementing drip irrigation systems to ensure the sustainability of plantation drives.

Participants also shared efforts undertaken by their schools and communities to combat pollution. A Bharat Scouts and Guides member highlighted the shift to cloth-based woggles, while another student described how her institute promotes eco-friendly Ganesha idols embedded with seeds.