Child Friendly City Initiative: Children’s Press Club Launched

By Samachar Vishesh News

Chandigarh 19^th Feb, 2020:- Media professionals (journalists, reporters, content writers for Tv and internet) are champions of human rights. They act as the eyes, ears and voices of the public. So, to bring the issues of children on the forefront  and  to make their voices heard against all sort of child rights violations, Child Friendly City Initiative, Chandigarh  along with  Don Bosco Navjeevan Society and  media persons of Chandigarh launched the First CHILDREN’S PRESS CLUB at  Don Bosco Navjeevan Centre, Sector 24 B. CHD.

The event started  with the welcoming the Stakeholders;  Manjeet Kaur - Former President Rotary Club  Shivalik , Veneet Marwaha-coordinator Smile Foundation Chandigarh, Ravinder Singh- Chairperson Chandigarh Labour cell and Fr. Reji Tom - Director Don Bosco Navjeevan Society Chandigarh. Diya, President of Carmel Convent Children’s Parliament welcomed the media persons and other dignitaries to the function. Fr. Reji Tom briefed the concept of Children Press club to the media persons. . “Press club which will provide a platform to children to make their voiced heard. He also requested the media to support the Child Parliaments and train children in the use of media.

Through Children’s Press Club, members of Children’s Parliaments will bring out their issues, their hopes, their dreams and aspirations.  Children’s Press Club will be held every month and children will be trained and helped to bring out their problems and plans of their area and for their neighbourhood.

 Ms Neha presented the concept of “Child friendly city initiative” which works for 5 Rigths of children i.e. right to education, safety, health, participation and play and leisure. This concept is derived from UNCRC to which India is a signatory. This concept brings children, civil society and civil administration on a single platform. To give importance to the right to participation, Child Friendly City Initiative has formed Child Parliaments in different sectors of Chandigarh.

Media is said to be the 4th pillar of democracy. So in promoting child related issues in Chandigarh media persons under the leadershilp of Ms Poonam Batth came forward to train the children and to support this initiative. In-fact, this is the sole motive behind organizing this event. Miss. Neha discussed the role of media and how media can lend a helping hand in  engaging children in the use of various media.  The example of Greta Thunberg, 16 years old environmental activist from Sweden helped the media persons to understand the important role they play in making known the issues of children in the society.

Children  who are leaders of Child parliaments; Diya(president of Children’s parliament from  Carmel convent school, kajal, Helping hand children’s parliament sec .52, Babita member of mother Tersea children’s parliament, Faidan Colony, Sagar environment minister- Don Bosco savera Children’s  Parliament Sec. 47 , Aarti ,Speaker From Children’s  Parliament Dr. A.P. J abdul kalam and  Monika Deputy Prime Minister Hamari aawaz Cfhildren’s Parliamnent, Dhanas shared their journey with this campaign and how the initiative helping them to build  confidence in them and contribute to speak up fpr their rights.  Diya from Carmel Convent School shared how the concept Children’s  Parliament helping children of her school in adopting  green habits like( using butter paper, steel tiffins etc.).  Aarti from Ramdarbar who is associated with CPs since October, 2019 told that her fear has gone since the time she has become a member in Children’s Parliament.