Why consult young people?
"Governments should support young people's views, we are happy that NGOs let us speak and take us seriously" says Joel, a student from Kenya.
Young people make-up roughly half of the population of Africa. They are not only ‘the future’ but also key stakeholders of today. Many of the challenges that young people face are very different to those that adults face, and that is why young people's voices need to be heard in this debate.
Omar, a student from Kenya says, "the G8 should support poverty alleviation in Africa by listening and focusing on the needs of children."
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| Photo: Adam Hinton |
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Young people working on Plan's project have identified what they think are the 5 main issues facing children in Africa:
1 HIV/AIDS
2 Poverty
3 Education
4 Health
5 Conflict
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Children's participation leads to better decisions. They have different experiences and views from adults. They are the experts on their own lives.
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International law says children have the right to express their views on all matters affecting them, and that those views should be given due weight by governments according to the child's age and maturity
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Children learn about their rights and duties through preparing to speak to decision-makers and participating in decisions
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Children are better protected if they can express their views. For instance, UK Government enquiries into child protection in Staffordshire and Wales in the 1980s and 1990s found that abuse was able to continue because adults failed to listen to and believe what children said.
Plan has found that enabling children to speak for themselves, including to key decision-makers, is a crucial means of achieving change. In India a polluting factory was temporarily closed down as a direct result of a video project run by children.
David, a student from Kenya says, "this is the first time I have ever been asked to give an opinion." His class mate Kipchumba says, "young people should air their views freely about the negative and positive images of Africa."
"I think it is important that children could have a say in life and speak about things that affect them." Nia, aged 10, Hayes
"Giving young people a voice will allow us to express our concerns and offer ways in which we can make the lives of others around the world better." Shanela, aged 18, Dartford
Marie Staunton, Chief Executive of Plan UK said: “The Commissioners talk about children, but need to be talking to them. Children are the experts on being children - their priorities, safety, the environment and education must be addressed if African children are to have a future.”
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