Observing Children’s Day 2021

Children are the invisible face of the COVID 19 Pandemic
School children around the world have lost an estimated 1.8 trillion hours – and counting – of in-person learning since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Globally, atleast one in seven children has been directly affected by lockdowns. More than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education, with atleast 463 million unable to access remote learning, reports UNICEF in its latest State of the World’s Children Report.

For children, the closures have translated into a loss of the comforting routine of school, sports, recreation, friends and opportunities for social and emotional development. Moreover, the harmful effects of this pandemic are not being distributed equally. They are most damaging to children in the poorest countries, in the poorest neighbourhoods, and for those in already disadvantaged or vulnerable situations.
This is a universal crisis and, for some children, the impact will be life-long.

Together with our partners, local and global, we thus want to reflect, analyze, prepare and respond to the critical needs of children, ALL CHILDREN, on this Children’s Day in November 2021. This once in a century situation precipitated by the COVID-19 Pandemic will require an unprecedented ‘coming together’ of governmental and non-governmental organizations, sector experts and frontline workers, professional bodies and volunteers, adults and children themselves.

We believe,
That we can do together must do together, and we must never do alone!

Highlights of the Children’s day Observance
• Observance of Children’s Day 2021
• Listening to the VOICES of Children
• Launch of the return to school ‘Wear my Shoes India Campaign’ 2021 by Dr.G.S. Sameeran I.A.S, District Collector, Coimbatore
• Inauguration of the Children’s Academy @ the International Center for Child and Public Health by
Dr.(Prof)S.Rajasekaran, Chairman, Ganga Medical Centre& Hospitals
• Dedication of the service scroll of COVID 19 response for vulnerable children by the Shanti Ashram-ICPH Teams in the presence of Ms.Annamaria, India
Representative, Focolare Movement & Dr.Lakshmi, Representative, Indian Academy of Paediatrics
• Unveiling of the ‘Dialogue with Boys to end violence against girls and women in Rural South India’ by Dr.M.Ramaswamy, Senior Pediatrician and Mentor,
International Centre for Child Public Health (ICPH) & Dr.V.Booma, Professor & Head of Pediatrics, Coimbatore Medical College

Observing Children’s Day 2021
Shanti Ashram observes Children’s Day every year. It provides us an added context to be mindful of the presence of CHILDREN in our midst, their rights to nurture, growth, development and progress. The COVID 19 Pandemic has put a particular focus on Children, their vulnerability and their needs.

For the past 35 years Shanti Ashram has worked for children, particularly vulnerable children serving over 70,000 children annually. Development interventions centered around education, health, nutrition, ethics education, peace-building and transformational leadership have allowed for our footprint in the service villages of Shanti Ashram. Our two Centre’s of Excellence, Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Peace, Leadership and Development (MGIPLD) and International Center for Child and Public Health (ICPH) also contribute in drawing on global expertise and enhancing the technical quality of our interventions.

The role of our partners in serving children have been equally valuable in bringing greater quality, depth and expanded reach across rural India. Our partnership platform today has 212 partners and therefore our convening role adds another dimension to our collective work.

This important joint initiative will include the:
• Children’s Academy
• Dialogue with Boys to End Violence Against Girls and Women in Rural South India
• Malarum Pavai : Adolescent Health Outreach with focus on Girls
• Dialogue with Girls : Harmful Effects of Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy
• Nutritional security and Anemia prevention amongst vulnerable children
• Art Therapy sessions

An honour for us to work alongside our outstanding partners to advance the health and wellbeing of children:
• Shanti Ashram
• International Center for Child and Public Health
• Indian Academy of Peadiatrics (IAP)
• Ganga Medical Center & Hospitals Pvt Ltd
• Masonic Medical Center for Children
• RAAC- Alagana Kovai
• Arigatuo International
• UNICEF

Across the world, International Children’s day is celebrated on 20th November, the same day as the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Arigatou International launched the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children in 2008. This year, 18 organizations including Shanti Ashram who are working for children’s rights and well-being have joined Arigatou International and UNICEF to celebrate the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children through the ‘Wear my Shoes campaign’.

for children’s return to school and respond to the impact of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic on their social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Another goal is to advocate for children’s right to education as per Articles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and also to ensure a safe learning environment.

More details- PPT: Childrens-Day-Observance-2021.pdf

Programme