The Day of the African Child (DAC) is celebrated on 16 June every year by member countries of the African Union (AU). Its main objective is to raise awareness of children’s rights by addressing the many challenges facing children across the continent.
On 16 June 1976, students in Soweto, South Africa, decided to demonstrate against the apartheid education system: this protest, initially peaceful, turned into a riot and hundreds of children were massacred as they marched for their right to education and equality under apartheid. Since then, this date has been chosen to represent African youth and in memory of this terrible event.
Since 2002, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) has been appointed to select the annual theme and organise the Day in AU member states.
This year, following on from the meetings held in Addis Ababa in November 2015 and as part of the programm of actions up to 2040, the theme of the Day of the African Child is the protection of the rights of the African child as well as the prevention of violence against children and more particularly intra-family violence.
Our NGO wanted to get involved by actively participating in this day: we are taking 60 children 50 kilometers west of Iringa, where the day’s festivities will be held, and we will provide them with meals.
Our projects in Tanzania give a large place to meetings and exchanges with the children, organized to allow them to express themselves, give their opinion, share their point of view and their reality. A stand with festive animations will punctuate this day during which we will be sensitive to transmit the messages of equal rights for all, respect and non-violence. Like other NGOs, we are committed to helping and supporting vulnerable children.
