Swedish trip gives girls a mission

FRESH from their trip in Sweden, South African child rights ambassadors are already hitting the ground running with their quest to address equal rights for girls.

SA Idols 2017 winner Paxton Fielies, 17, as well as Zintle Kati, 16, and Simbongile Sam, 17, from Khayelitsha, recently returned from Sweden, where they performed at the award ceremony of the World Children’s Prize (WCP) in front of Queen Silvia of Sweden and hundreds of people from around the world.

They return with a mandate to fight for girls to have the same rights as boys in their communities. The Rotary Club has lauded this mandate, with plans to work with the ambassadors to see it realised.

“As a child rights ambassador, I teach schoolchildren and members of my community about children’s rights, especially the rights of girls,” said Simbongile. “I give a voice to children because few people listen to them. Children are afraid to speak up about the abuses they experience daily. I visit schools to talk to children and teachers.”

The World Children’s Prize Foundation educates and supports children in acting as change-makers, standing up for compassion, the equal worth of every individual, children’s rights, democracy and sustainable development.

Jean Wilke, from the Rotary Club of Claremont, also attended the conference.

“Children everywhere need to know that they have rights and they are protected,” she said. Commenting on her experiences at the conference, Wilke said it was inspiring to see how passionate the children were about changing their world.

“I was very proud of the South African contingent. Seeing young children talking with such knowledge and maturity about critical issues was phenomenal.”

While in Sweden, Wilke met members from the Rotary Club of Mariefred. This club, together with Rotary District 2370 in Sweden, wish to help expand the reach of the WCP Foundation around the world.

“Our ultimate dream is for Rotary clubs along the Garden Route, and in Namibia and Angola, to help connect more children at more schools to the fantastic resources and connections that the World Children’s Prize offers,” she said. – Staff Writer