Listen to the Future: Celebrating and Amplifying Children's Voices on World Children’s Day
For Immediate Release: 19 November 2024
Listen to the Future: Celebrating and Amplifying Children's Voices on World Children’s Day
Maseru, Lesotho – World Vision Lesotho and UNICEF Lesotho invite the public, stakeholders, and media to commemorate World Children’s Day 2024 on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Pitseng Phelisanong, a school supporting 445 children, including orphans and those with special needs, chronic illnesses, and HIV/AIDS.
World Children’s Day (WCD) is a global day for children, by children. Celebrated on November 20th, it marks the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and serves as a call to action for schools, communities, and institutions to engage with and support children. This year’s theme, "Listen to the Future. Stand Up for Children’s Rights," emphasizes the need to amplify children’s voices and prioritize their rights, health, and well-being to shape a better and more inclusive future.
Event Highlights:
Kids Takeover: A signature activity of WCD, where children and young people will “take charge,” sharing their views, implementing ideas, and taking action on key issues affecting their lives. Focus areas include: Inclusive education for all, Improved access to good health and nutrition, Policy amendments on child protection issues such as child labour, sexual exploitation, and abuse, Child participation in decision-making processes.
World Children’s Day Collective Letter Reading: Children will present letters reflecting on their rights, priorities, and dreams for a better future. Across languages and borders, their voices call for peace, safety, love, and care urging leaders to take action to uphold and realize every child’s right.
Art Showcase and Talent Show: Celebrating children’s creativity, resilience, and potential through performances and exhibitions.
Special Guests:
The event will feature distinguished speakers and advocates, including; Head of Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD), National Director, World Vision Lesotho, Country Representative, UNICEF Lesotho, Hon. Minister of Health, Hon. Minister of Education, Hon. Minister of Gender, Youth, and Social Development.
World Vision Lesotho and UNICEF Lesotho are committed to making WCD a day of action. The Kids Takeover provides an invaluable platform for children and young people to engage directly with government leaders, sharing their unique perspectives on driving progress for child rights and shaping a better future for all.
Why This Matters:
Child rights are human rights—non-negotiable and universal. Yet, in too many places, these rights are misunderstood, disregarded, or denied. This World Children’s Day reminds us of our collective responsibility to prioritize children’s development and to listen to their voices. Children are powerful agents of change, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives that can transform our world.
Media Opportunities:
Interviews with children, organizational leaders, and government representatives.
Coverage of Kids Takeover activities, art showcases, and talent performances.
Visual documentation of children’s letters and their collective call to action.
This World Children’s Day, let us listen to the voices of children and stand up for their rights. Together, we can create a world where every child’s voice is heard, their rights are respected, and their future is secure. Join us in Pitseng to celebrate, engage, and act.
We call on all stakeholders; government leaders, community members, schools, and organizations to commit to creating a brighter future by investing in children today. Amplify their voices, champion their rights, and be part of the movement to build a more inclusive and equitable society for all children.
Let’s stand together for children’s rights—because investing in our future means investing in our children.
ENDS.
Note to editor
For more information contact:
Lerato Brown, Communications and Marketing Manager, lerato_brown@wvi.org +266 58911020 or Thato Mochone, Communications and Partnerships Specialist, tmochone@unicef.org 266 58840082
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org/lesotho or follow us on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.