Songs, dramatisations and video presentations brought children’s rights to life yesterday during the UNICEF World Children’s Day and Child Rights Ambassador Awards Ceremony held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Under the theme My Day, My Rights, the event saw students, youth groups, United Nations agency representatives and child rights ambassadors gathered to spotlight the stories and advocacy that drove the powerful movement.
Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman said every child deserved a fair opportunity at prospering regardless of their background or life situation.
He said education must play a strategic part in helping a child to go on to be a productive adolescent and adult, adding that children were the foundation of society who needed to be nurtured and loved.
“When we speak to our country’s children, they must understand that they are here, first of all, not by accident but for a purpose. That purpose, ordained by God, irrespective of whatever circumstance those children have come from, they are here for a strategic time as this. We, therefore, have a moral, civic and a national duty to ensure that every child that is born in Barbados, or that moves to Barbados, feels a sense of calm assuredness, and the ability to thrive and to shine as we go forward,” he said.
Pointing out that Barbados was a country which always led with excellence regardless of its size or limited resources, Blackman said it was always in its DNA to lead, reminding the youth they had the same potential to do phenomenal things in any sphere.
“We see it in issues of the climate crisis. We see it in issues of sport, having produced the world’s greatest cricketer. We see it in entertainment
and business through Rihanna. It is in your DNA as children of this country to do phenomenally great things, not just for your country or community, but for the world.”
The minister said a constant retooling of teachers, and training in several areas, were being conducted to determine how to help educators adjust to the everchanging environment and the needs of the children, regardless of their different abilities.
During the ceremony, 19 individuals from Barbados’ first cohort of Child Rights Ambassadors were awarded for their efforts in advocating for children’s rights. The mentors who assisted the ambassadors in their journey were also recognised.
Six awards were presented to ambassadors whose commitment and contributions were exceptional.
(AJ)
