Who Celebrates the World Day?
Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2012 in INDIA
Day of Prayer and Action for Children in INDIA, 2012
That our work for Children must combine Ensuring Rights and Realizing Responsibilities
Because Children learn from living examples – 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 India Focus
For doable and measurable results, the World Day has chosen three areas of focus for 2011-2013:
- Birth Registration
- Positive parenting or non-violent child-rearing
- Prevention of Child marriage by empowering boys, girls, families and religious communities. ( For details a India note on Child marriage is included)
The India Observance will include :
- Interfaith Prayers with & for Children across the country
- Observance of the National Children’s Day on November 14th by holding Children’s Parliament
- Interfaith Workshops on prevention of Child Marriage
- School centered campaign on Child Protection and Prevention of Child Marriage
Time frame – 14th to 21st November, 2012
Reach
- Children, particularly vulnerable children
- 11 States across India: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Orissa, Tamil Nadu & Uttar Pradesh
- Leaders , brothers & sisters from different faith traditions will come together in Interfaith workshops: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism & the Bahai tradition.
Our hope is that we will
pause to celebrate the blessing that children bring to us
through their presence & potential.
reflect on what we can do together to reduce child marriage
dedicate & renew our prayers & action to the well-being of children
for every child matters!
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.
For further information please contact:
Mr. G.Vijayaragavan, Coordinator, DPAC 2012-13, GNRC-INDIA
Mail- vijay.varma035@gmail.com, Mobile – 91 99941 56626
Mr. A.Devaraj, Head, Bala Shanti Program, Shanti Ashram
Mail- arpdevaraj@yahoo.com, Mobile- 9443952455
Downloads
- ChildMarriageinIndia.pdf
India Note on Child Marriage - DPAC 2012 Program – Childrens Parliament -Bala Sabha.pdf
A note on Children’s Parliament - DPAC 2012 Program sheet.pdf
Program Sheet - Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2012 in India.pdf
World Day of Prayer and Action Report 2012 – India - Report and Action plan for Children Parliement.pdf
Report and Action Plan for Children