MAY 17 th - INTERNATIONAL
CHILD HELPLINE DAY
Connecting Children
Children all over the world are among the most disempowered
groups in society; least able to get information, support
and help when they most need it. The UN Child Rights Convention,
No child should be left alone. When their needs are ignored
or misunderstood by the adults around them, they can reach
out to a child helpline for help or advice by simply dialling
a number. If they are not able to reach a telephone, outreach
activities ensure that the most marginalized children are
equally heard.
In our 'global village' of the 21 st century, help for
children can be as close as the nearest telephone, computer
or postal service. Modern and traditional means of communication
are being used by child helplines all over the world to
ensure that each and every child is able to contact someone
for help. Child helplines are an important mechanism to
connect to children and enable the voice of each and every
boy and girl to be heard.
CHILD HELPLINE INTERNATIONAL is the
global member network of Child Helplines working to protect
the rights of the child. It is a network of telephone helplines
and outreach services for children and young people in
over 150 countries with 91 official members. Child helplines
are active all over the world. Their mission is to respond
to children in need of Care and Protection.
INTERNATIONAL CHILD HELPLINE DAY -
May 17th is a day declared by Child Helpline International
and dedicated to celebrating the work of child helplines
all over the world. The theme this year is CONNECTING CHILDREN.
The focus of 17th May will be on highlighting the work
undertaken by Childlines all over India and its
child helpline partners all over the world.
CHILDLINE Allahabad with the Discesan
Development & Welfare Society, organised a rally covering
almost 25 kms from the slum area of the city to CHILDLINE
office was organized. There were 50 Cycle Rickshaws carrying
the little kids with CHILDLINE T-shirts on. Handbills and
a message through loud speakers were given all through
the rally. It was an innovative way of spreading the word
about CHILDLINE, Child helpline 1098 and child rights,
to thousands of people who witnessed it. After the rally,
there was art and role play competition for the children
in the CHILDLINE premises. After brunch, the children were
reached back to their homes.
Long live CHILDLINE Allahabad !!
CIF Southern Regional Resource Center, Chennai has organized two events to mark the 10.9.8 Day of which one is an SMS campaign and the other a Human Chain.
SMS Campaign:
Chennai office tied up with TATA Indicom & Vodafone, to support CHILDLINE by means of SMS campaign across the state of TamilNadu on the 10.9.8 day.
HUMAN CHAIN & Creating a volunteer bank for CHILDLINE:
A Human Chain was organized by SRRC in collaboration with the Chennai CHILDLINE partners on at Marina beach. More than 200 student volunteers of NSS & Social Work departments from Stella Maris college, Queen Maris College, Loyola college, DG Vaishnav College, Madras University, Hindu College participated in the event. T-shirts and caps were distributed to the volunteers. CHILDLINE and Chennai Super Kings logo were printed on the cap and in the T-shirt respectively.
The event was compeered by Ms. Jacintha Chitra. Ms.Rachel Kalaiselvi welcomed the gathering. The keynote address on CHILDLINE and the significance of the day was delivered by Ms.Thiripurasundari, Head, Regional Resource Centre, Chenai.
The event was chaired by Dr. P. Manorama, Chairperson (CWC, Chennai). The Chairperson was too happy to see the amount of youth assembled to become the Child Rights advocates. She insisted that students can change anything in the society and those who volunteered may bring about changes in the lives of children in Tamilnadu. She asked the students to respond immediately whenever they see any Child Rights violation in their day-today life. She participated in oath taking also inaugurated the Human chain .
The role of volunteers and the responsibilities were explained by Mr.Vijay Bhasker. The taking of the volunteers were lead by Mr.Sahayaraj. The volunteers also took Oath to be the CHILDLINE volunteer. The oath taken is as follows
" CHILDLINE is mine.
I am an important part of CHILDLINE.
Hence it is my duty that I should tell everyone about CHILDLINE.
I take an oath ,
From today, I will tell every child I meet about CHILDLINE.
I will take every child who has a problem to CHILDLINE
And add to the CHILDLINE family "
The volunteers registered themselves with CIF and they were agreed to support CHILDLINE anytime. The event end with a formal vote of Thanks from Mr. Bennet Chacko.
The Human Chain was formally inaugurated by the Chief Guest Dr. P. Manorama. The participants hold the placards with messages on Child Rights. Banners were displayed along the stretch of Human Chain. Megaphones were used to shout the slogans on Child Rights and volunteers made wave like movements to attract the attention of passers by.
The event was covered by The Hindu, The New Indian Express, Times of India Deccan Chronicle and other prominent( both Tamil and English) dailies and satellite Channels ( some of them include Jaya ,Zee-Tamil, Sun , Makkal, Tamilan, Tamil Osai etc.) in Tamil Nadu.
|
