International Children’s Day with UNICEF is an event that unites all children around the world. On this day, joint initiatives are undertaken in many countries to show support and solidarity with children whose rights are not respected. The anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a joyful day, but one with a serious message. UNICEF initiates projects aimed at spreading knowledge about children’s rights. It is an opportunity to draw society’s attention to the difficult situation of children in different parts of the world, where their rights are violated or not respected.
This year is difficult for all of us, but exceptionally difficult for children in a place where the situation was tragic even before the coronavirus epidemic. That place is Yemen—a country where the greatest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century has been continuing for years. Its most vulnerable victims are children, losing their chance for a happy childhood.
Due to the epidemic situation in the country, the school’s celebrations of International Children’s Day were held remotely. The school community joined a relief campaign for children in Yemen and carried out interesting initiatives. One of them was “A Joint Journey through Yemen,” which introduced children to the difficult situation of their peers in that country while they watched a presentation prepared by UNICEF during online classes and at home with their families. The next step was a discussion about what should change so that children’s rights in Yemen would be respected.
Joint activities for Grades I–VIII aimed to familiarize students with their rights. All classes, together with their homeroom teachers, learned about children’s rights using informational and educational materials prepared by UNICEF. As part of the “A Better World for Children in Yemen” campaign, students in Grades IV–VIII created artworks and graphic works depicting their vision of a better world for children in that country. All the activities were accompanied by an online exhibition entitled “Help for Yemen.” It could be viewed on the school’s website and on the “Google Classroom” platform. The works prepared for the occasion confirmed that students care about the rights of all children around the world.
The color of UNICEF symbolizes unity with young people around the world. Therefore, the school community remembered the color blue, which symbolizes solidarity with all children worldwide, including those whose rights are not respected.
The Student Council, together with its supervisors—Adrian Banyś and Agnieszka Markowicz—organized regular online meetings with the classes. During them, students learned about children’s rights described in the individual Articles of the Convention. The knowledge they gained became the starting point for a debate among the students entitled “Do You Know Your Rights?”
As part of the various activities, teachers offered students numerous opportunities provided by modern information and communication technologies. The children completed an online quiz entitled “Check What You Know About Children’s Rights,” prepared by UNICEF. The questions devoted to children’s rights and referring to the situation of children in Yemen proved to be an excellent way to learn together remotely and at home.
November 20 is a special date that should turn our thoughts toward children and their rights.