Universal Children’s Day observed in the east

The East Dominica Children’s Federation, in partnership with ChildFund Caribbean, organized many exciting activities in observance of Universal Children’s Day.  This year’s activities were celebrated under the theme “Stop Violence Against Children.”  Dominica joined the rest of the world to observe this extraordinary occasion on Sunday, November 20th, 2011.

During the week of November 13, 2011, children and youth reaching from Calibishie to Delices were sensitized to the goals of Universal Children’s Day, of child rights and the fight to prevent violence against children. A few Peace Corps Volunteers in conjunction with the East Federation staff did presentations to the primary schools and youth groups on child rights. The youth and children from the entire island worked enthusiastically to design banners, signs, and presentations to express their thoughts and feelings on stopping violence against children.

The activities concluded with a motorcade and celebration which occurred on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Three motorcades of buses and trucks departed from Calibishie, La Plaine and Petite Soufriere at 11 am and congregated in Castle Bruce. As the motorcades wound its way through the villages, child rights music was played and the children and youth in the buses waved their posters and yelled out messages to be heard by all in the community. Messages such as, “Respect your children, and they will respect you in return”, “Stop child abuse”, and “Love your children”. At 3pm, on the flat in Castle Bruce, presentations commenced from children and youth across the west and east of Dominica, displaying clever skits, songs, poems, and speeches to the 500+ people in attendance. With the assistance of Club DVD and the many sponsors who contributed to the success of this event.

All in attendance enjoyed celebrating Universal Children’s Day; the youth and children felt empowered from sharing their voices and the crowd not only learned about child rights but also had fun watching the performances. The East Federation reached 1,500 children, youth, and adults with the awareness of Child Rights, and through this successful event the children and youth were given a voice to speak out against child abuse.