Youths and Children Call for More Child Protection
02 December 2008

A group of young people worked together to mobilize local authorities, community members, teachers, and villages and commune chiefs to protect children.

A total of 300 enthusiastic participants from seven different villages in Hob commune, BattamBang province, joined a parade on November 24th, to inform vendors, passersby, residents and cars and moto passengers of child rights, and mistreatment of children in the form of child labor, child discrimination, child abuse and child exploitation.

Over 40 youth peace club’s members launched a public awareness raising after they attended two-course trainings—Peace Fruit for Children Curriculum and Child Protection— organized by World Vision’s Mobilizing Communities for Child Protection Project.

Miss. Ret Sdoeng, one of the youth peace club’s members said, “we organized the big parade because we wanted to bring peace for our community.”

“I want peace for my community. I want solidarity amongst my community’s members. I want to see children living life in full and to see their smile,” added Ret Sdoeng.

The club members have also conducted many educational activities such as teaching children about their rights and role-play in their villages and pagodas to change the mindsets on aggression and violence among teenagers and men, and inform children of their rights.

Mr. Sor Vichet, Hob commune chief, agreed that there was positive change in his commune following the youths’ active involvement.

“I am proud of their initiatives. As a local authority, I support their activities aimed at building peace for the communities,” stated Mr. Sor Vichet.

Thourk Vuthy, Koh Krolor Area Development Program manager for World Vision, said that this was a sign of success because the young people made the event happen on their own initiative.

Many people hear and learn from the messages of the children. The messages delivered by the children included: child rights and messages against domestic violence, child abuse and exploitation as well as messages against drug use through loud speaker announcements, lifting up posters and distributing leaflets.

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