The 16 June is a day marked as the Day of the African Child in remembrance of the massacre of innocent school children of Soweto by the then apartheid regime of South Africa. This Day has been commemorated on the16 June every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union.
This year’s theme focuses on “30 years after the adoption of the Charter: accelerate implementation of Agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for children”.
This commemoration provides an opportunity for state parties, government bodies, NGOs and other stakeholders to give further support to the campaign and raise the awareness level of the negative consequences and the positive effects of ending conflict and crisis in Africa. This will help in recognizing the enormous challenges faced by millions of children in Africa. SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia in partnership with the Government of the Gambia and the following partners join force to commemorate this day : ChildFund, The Gambia Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education UNICEF- The Gambia Ministry of Justice Child Protection Alliance Kids Come First Voice of The Young Save the Children. As part of event making the day an Inter-generational Dialogue was organized between stakeholders and children to discuss on the the plight of children in the Gambia. Fatou Jaiteh, an SOS Children’s Villages participant from SOS Children’s Village Bakoteh took this opportunity to as the Director of Children’s Affairs at the Ministry of Children. Women and Social Welfare question related to COVID-19. I quote
“What support has the Ministry of Children, Women and Social Welfare offered to children who may be affected by the effects of Covid 19”
SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia was represented by the Acting National Director, Children Villages International Representative , National Advocacy and Communication Coordinator and National Child Safeguarding Coordinator.
