(Pretoria - June 13, 2008) All Africans win when children are given a chance to express their views and take action together with adults, says Save the Children Sweden on the occasion of the Day of the African Child commemorated every year on the 16th of June.

When actively involved in decision-making, African children are making positive changes in their schools, families, and communities. If services and initiatives designed for children better suit their needs, democracies and economies in Africa are also likely to grow stronger and work more effectively.

Half of African People Still Unheard Despite notable progress, more than half of the African population, comprised of children under 18 years old, remain largely unseen and unheard in both public and private life. According to a recent progress report by the African Union, children's participation in the world of the adults is "extremely rare".

A 2007 snap survey in Zambia by Media Monitoring Project revealed that children hardly feature in the news and they only account for 4% of news stories. Over 60% of that coverage was on child abuse, crime or disasters, while 65% of people quoted on children's issues were adults. "We need to be given space to contribute towards national development," says Jackson Lengwe, Youth Media Editor in Zambia.

"Many adults still believe that children are not mature and are unable to have a reasonable opinion or to make a good decision. Others are afraid to lose their power," stresses Elkane Mooh, one of Save the Children Sweden's specialists on children's participation. "On the contrary, if you really want to protect your children, you should consult them. Who can understand children's problems better than themselves? Who better than them to find adequate solutions?"

"Most of the time, adults are the ones making the decisions for us. They often think children must obey the rules. But at the end of the day, when it is not working out, they put the blame on children. Actually, they are the ones to be blamed because they haven't asked our opinions about the rules," says Musu Bakoto Sawo, 17 year old girl from The Gambia.

Listening to Children helps Develop Society Today's adults can help by making tomorrow's adults more comfortable to share their opinions. To commemorate the 2008 Day of the African Child with the theme "Right to Participation: Let Children be Seen and Heard", Save the Children Sweden is calling on all adults to listen to children and help them to make their ideas become reality.

Allowing children to participate makes sense for many reasons: • It is educational: it teaches civil responsibility and democratic principles and allows children to understand their ability to make change within their societies • It is cost-effective: it has been shown that policies and activities for children designed by adults, without taking children's views into account, frequently fail because they are irrelevant, unattractive or even harmful for children; • It builds children's confidence and self-esteem: children who are given the chance to speak become more confident and, as a result, are more responsible citizens now and in their future adult lives. • It helps to avoid discrimination: children are often much more aware of those among them who are facing discrimination and often have creative ideas on how to tackle complicated issues; • It is their right: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child both underline that children's participation is a key pillar and right for all children;

A Councilman in Livingstone, Zambia eloquently described the impact of child participation: "When an adult hears the story of a child from another adult, it does not carry weight. But when children speak out about their problems, I feel, as an adult, humiliated. As a Councilman in the Local City Council, I will carry your message to my fellow Councilmen."

Siga Rose Sène, 15 year old girl from Senegal explained the importance of child participation within the family. "At home, my mother discusses with us before doing anything for us. But I'm sorry to hear some of my friends saying that they are afraid of their parents. Some parents think that children do not know anything. If a child has a problem, saying it will allow the parents to understand and help."

Creative Ways to Speak Out Drama, poetry, dance, music, rallies, painting, sport activities...all over Africa; children have found many creative ways to get their message across on the Day of the African Child. From Pretoria to Banjul to Nairobi, a great number of activities will take place on June 16th with thousands of children mobilised by Save the Children Sweden's partners, the national NGOs making child participation a reality.

For example, in Kenya children will be presenting papers to the current government on post-election violence and how it affected children. In Ethiopia, children will be marching in the streets. In Togo, toy weapons will be symbolically destroyed by children and soldiers to protest against violence. In Côte d'Ivoire, child parliamentarians will submit to adult legislators projects of bills on forced migration and birth certification. In The Gambia, drama on children's participation will be performed by children before politicians and policy makers. In Senegal, children and local artists will work on mural paintings in urban poor areas to remind adults on the importance to send girls to school, while in Zambia where the day is being commemorated under the theme of child labour children will march and present papers to the local leadership. Apart from the national event which will be graced by the national leadership, they will be a number of activities in different provinces in South African where children will take part in drama and poems.will take part in drama and poems.

We have seen in many African countries that by empowering children, we are supporting change to happen. When given the chance, children are changing their families, communities and countries for the better.

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In Ethiopia; Sophie Joy Mosko: Communications ans Advocacy Officer, Save the Children Sweden, +251 (0) 911255453. Email:sophiem@ecaf.savethechildren.se

Or Mishisalla Bayene: Communications Officer, Save the Children Sweden, +251911209925. Email: mishisallab@ecaf.savethechildren.se

In South Africa; Tapiwa Gomo: Regional Communications Officer, Save the Children Sweden: +27 82 8880341, +27 12430428 or email tapiwag@saf.savethechildren.se

In Nairobi; George Otieno Ojuondo: Regional Communications Officer, Save the Chldren Sweden: +254 721854952. Email: georgeo@ecaf.savethechildren.se

In Dakar, Laurent Duvillier: Regional Communications Officer, Save the Children Sweden: +221 776376604. Email: laurentd@waf.savethechildren.se

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