Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2011 in India

Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2011 in India

Mahatma Gandhi

A Spiritual Obligation for Action

The World Day is a partnership and a movement of people committed to the well-being of children, their rights and dignity. The World Day is inspired by the traditions of world religions and the endeavors of a wide spectrum of intergovernmental organizations and NGOs serving the human community.   The World Day is about promoting common action and wherever possible spiritual reflection to build a world fit for children.

Together we will make a difference!

DPAC 2011 Message by Kul Gautam, Convening Chair & Hans Ucko, Co-Chair

Why should every child matter?

We live in the midst of the beauty and wonders of creation, the miracle of life, and the enormous potential of human beings to enrich life- to make it a blessing for all. Yet, we also live in a world in which violence and war, poverty and injustice are endemic.

The growth and development of children include physical, mental, social, cultural, spiritual, religious and environmental dimensions. Sadly, poverty, lack of access to basic facilities like education and health, and malnutrition still afflict many of our children.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) identifies the rights of the child and affirms that: ‘The child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, Due account should be taken of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each people for the protection and harmonious development of the child’

Every child is a promise, a sacred gift and a living sign of the future. The challenge before us is therefore, how to empower children and enhance their innate ability for hopeful and positive living.   

In the Spotlight

GNRC South Asia Focus

For doable and measurable results, the World Day has chosen three areas of focus for 2011-2013:

• Positive parenting or non-violent child-rearing
• Prevention of early marriage to empower girls and families.

Working with parents will be essential, because studies have shown that most violence against children happens in the family.  Therefore, when we promote non-violent discipline, positive parenting and the prevention of early marriage as projects that are primarily directed to parents and caregivers, the result will be preventing or stopping violence against children.

 The India Observance will include :

Program Schedule from 12 to 21 November

National Children’s Day – 14th November

Children’s day, in Hindi known as “Bal Diwas”, in India falls on November 14th every year and for good reason. Children’s day in India is celebrated on Pandit Nehru’s birthday as a day of fun and frolic, a celebration of childhood, children and Nehruji’s love for them.

Chacha Nehru as the children fondly referred to him, was fond of both children and roses. In fact he often compared the two, saying that children were like the buds in a garden. They should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they were the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. He felt that children are the real strength of a country and the very foundation of society. He was the ‘beloved’ of all the children who gave him the endearing name of ‘Chacha Nehru’.

As a tribute to this great man and his love for the children, his birthday is celebrated all over India as ‘CHILDREN’S DAY’. Most schools have cultural programmes for the day, with the students managing it all. All over the country, various cultural, social, and even corporate, institutions conduct competitions for children.