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Creating a Child-Friendly World

Children are the living messages

we send to a time we will not see.

-John W. Whitehead

Children are the world's most valuable resource

and its best hope for the future.

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The child must know that he is a miracle,

that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been,

and until the end of the world there will not be,

another child like him.

-Pablo Casals

These wonderful quotes remind us of the most precious gifts we could ever get in our lives ? our children. Each child is unique and he/she deserves to be treated with full respect and an enormous amount of love and understanding. Starting with the family, which should provide his/her safe base, continuing with the local community and all the way up to the global level, where the whole mankind should unite in one of the most important goals ? to create a world which would fit the child and suit his/her needs.

We should all act in the best interest of children, while promoting children's rights and protecting them from violence and any other kind of abuse. We should always make sure that each child is listened to and fully respected. As full-fledged right holders, children should have the effective access to justice and adequate treatment equally as any adult. And the justice system should be adapted to the child so that the child does not feel threatened by it, but protected.

All children should grow up in a child-friendly environment which guarantees their normal physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Children should have the access to a quality education which will provide them opportunities to achieve real learning outcomes and reach their potential. Education should be child-centered and based on the principles of democratic participation, inclusiveness and protection.

These are just some of the basic issues related to the topic ? how to create a child-friendly world. You will be given some useful links for your own in-depth research.

Although we live in 21st century and the new millenium, the sad fact is that not all children enjoy the same rights and not all of them are treated in a proper way. There are still some parts of the world where you can encounter child slavery and child labour. Here is the story of Kailash Satyarthi from India and his brave attempt to make his country a better place for all children:

http://freedocumentaries.org/documentary/pbs-the-new-heroes-kailash-satyarthi-child-slavery-in-india

Find out more about the concept of child-friendly schools and listen to Dr. Cream Wright talking about the basic principles of the CFS model:

www.unicef.org/cfs

www.unicef.org/cfs/index_55.htm

What Makes a Child-Friendly Learning Environment:

http://www.unicef.org/teachers/environment/friendly.htm

Here is the link to investigate the topic of child-friendly justice, along with a short introductory video:

http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardsetting/childjustice/default_en.asp

http://webtv.coe.int/index.php?VODID=216&CategoryID=29&SubCategoryID=33&arrows=1

Child friendly version of A World Fit for Children:

http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/library/child-friendly-version-world-fit-children

Child-friendly cities or communities:

http://childfriendlycities.org/

Principles of child-friendly housing:

http://www.courtyardhousing.org/downloads/ChildFriendlyHousing.pdf

These are just the basic hints to motivate your own research of the topic and our class discussion on the blog. Think about your own experience and your local community. What can we all do to make this world better suited for all children? Remember Kailash Satyarthi's words: 'If not now, then when? If not you, then who?'

"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Walk beside me and be my friend"

Attributed to Albert Camus

- Day 15
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