Blog: Children and young people transforming society
By Jennifer Philpot-Nissen, Senior Advisor for Human Rights, World Vision
What is the CATS conference and why is World Vision involved? It’s not – as the name might suggest – a gathering of felines, but the third year in which World Vision has facilitated children and young people from all corners of the globe to join thier peers in Caux, Switzerland. Not a whisker in sight, but many dynamic Children as Actors for Transforming Society.
Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes the right of children to be involved in decisions affecting them. This right to be heard and taken seriously is one of the fundamental values of the Convention. However, this right remains elusive for many children. This is why conferences such as CATS are so important.
And it’s not hard to pinpoint why this event is special. The venue itself has a rich history: an enormous building used to house Jewish refugees during World War Two; from its grounds you can see the entirety of Lac Leman looking past Lausanne and across towards Geneva.
The structure of the conference – which avoids lengthy presentations and ensures maximum participation from all – has evolved into a gathering which even the most experienced event planners would envy.
But it is the involvement of children in all aspects of the conference that really ignites the celebrated ‘spirit of Caux’. From the planning stages each year, to the facilitation and moderation of workshops, to participants sharing of their own stories and boundless enthusiasm to get involved in everything that happens during the week, the children’s energy becomes infectious.
Children from World Vision projects in Kosovo and Zimbabwe shared their experiences from two very different backgrounds, while meeting and learning from a vast array of other young and adult leaders.
Zgjim and David had the chance to meet Julie Ward, Member of the European Parliament working on Kosovo and share with her their experiences of growing up in a post-conflict country with on-going distrust between ethnic communities. Friendships such as theirs – initiated through the World Vision Kids for Peace club – may be unusual, but are critical to help to break down barriers and challenge entrenched attitudes.
Amanda, Anna and Scholastic are all members of the Children’s Junior Parliament in Zimbabwe, and shared their enthusiasm to learn how child participation is viewed and enacted in different cultures and contexts, and how children can be better empowered to participate. Before they returned home, the Zimbabwe and Kosovar delegations had drawn up follow-up plans to share and implement what they had learnt.
This year, as the Millennium Development Goals draw to a close and we prepare to welcome the Sustainable Development Goals, it’s time for us to listen. Children are experts on their own lives. They have unique knowledge about their needs and concerns. To ensure children experience safe and fulfilling lives, they must have access to information on their rights, and opportunities to inform decision-making processes.
Decisions informed by children’s perspectives will be more relevant, more effective and ultimately, more sustainable.