Day of the African Child 2017: news and views as campaigners stand up for children’s rights
Barriers to education, Early childhood development, Global Youth Ambassadors, Right to education, Sustainable Development Goals, Teachers and learning, Technology and education
Young people across the continent and around the world are holding events and campaigning for every child to receive quality care and education.
Events are being held today to mark Day of the African Child – when young campaigners show their support for the rights of children across the continent.
Among them are ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï’s Global Youth Ambassadors, our network of 500 inspiring activists aged 18 to 29 from more than 80 countries.
This blog will feature news, pictures and social media postings from some of the Day of the African Child events. So please visit us again for more updates.
How it all began
On this day 41 years ago, thousands of children in Soweto, South Africa, protested about the poor quality of their education and the fact that the minority white language was being forced into their schools.
That peaceful demonstration ended in bloodshed – and out of the tragedy came the Day of the African Child.Ìý
Stats that tell the story
In sub-Saharan Africa, there are 55 million children who do not go to school.ÌýMore thanÌýa fifth of sub-Saharan African children between the ages of six and 11 and a third of youths aged 12 and 14 are out of school, according to UNESCO.
Less than 12% of African children currently have access to early childhood care and education services.Ìý
But there has also been progress. Almost twice as many girls in East Africa and three times as many in Central Africa completed secondary education in 2014 as in 2005, according to the annual African Economic Outlook report published last month.
Be inspired by our Global Youth Ambassadors
Several of our GYAs have written special blogs to mark Day of the African Child. Here are the links.
tells how a new school is giving slum children in Lagos access to quality education.
writes about the need to give hope to rural children in his country.
Ìýreflects on the Soweto massacre and the need to mobilise for children’s rights.
Ìýsays his country should prioritise early childhood development to stop kids ending up on the streets.
Girls are cracking the code
ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï’s Code Clubs in several African countries allow girls to learn digital skills in a safe environment. Students at one of the clubs in Kampala, Uganda, .
You can learn more about our Code Clubs on the link below…
Children’s voices heard in Kenya
2000 children gathered inÌýBungoma County, where the guest of honour was the president of the Kenya Children’s Assembly – a high school student.
Gilbert Ngaira –ÌýCountry Programmes Manager for the Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children – writes a fascinating blog for us about how Day of the African Child events give children a platform to air their views.
Here’s what some other international charities and UN agencies are saying today…
It's the Day of the African Child! ????????
Today we celebrate Africa's beautiful, brilliant children, wherever they are.
— UNICEF Africa (@UNICEFAfrica)
Children across Africa are missing out on their childhoods.RT& Take Action NOW!
— Save the Children E&SA (@ESASavechildren)
: In Tanzania its commemorated across all programme Units , Geita being one of them. Our call is ending child marriage.
— Plan Tanzania (@Plan_tanzania)
Today is International Day of the African Child ????. Let's build a world where all children are protected and empowered.
— War Child UK (@WarChildUK)
Getting children back in school instills a bright future for them.
— GracaMachelTrust (@G_MachelTrust)
On , sees hope 4 in . Challenges persist, here’s what they’re doing
— Global Business Coalition for Education (@gbceducation)
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