May God bless the children of the world!
Good parents, good adult citizenry will result, with the help of good social and educational services, in happier children. Unfortunately, too many children are made to carry adult responsibilities and burdens. Child labour and abuse is a phantom both in some homes and businesses. This horrible image has now produced another reality i.e. children are now turning violently on themselves and each other. This is evident in the upsurge of school fights and wars. The symptoms portrayed before us suggest that the adult citizenry has failed to look after one of its most precious resources, our children.
A significant percentage of our adults seem so busy that our children are fast becoming invisible and their cries are more faint to the ear. How does a society correct this problem? How does it renew the ideology of the village or community? How does it reform or restructure the family, school, social services, etc., for our children’s sake?
Perhaps the answers to these questions are for us to slow down as a society. Also, there is need to shift its point of reference. So called third world societies have allowed the USA culture to inform them unfortunately many of the USA ways are less then becoming. They seemed to have abused to idea of the rights of the child and findings in psychology, to the extent that many of the very children are adversely affected. The USA is now attempting to correct their failing social approaches to raising children. For instance, many of their schools have put children back in uniforms as observed in Brooklyn.
Perhaps there are other societies our society can learn from and certainly draw from local experts as well to chart a way forward in saving our children. Perhaps the American way needs to be put on hold before it is too late. There is urgent need to restore the values and principles of peace, love and happiness for our children. Children should enjoy their precious years before being burdened with adult life. Children need to be allowed to take their time to grow up. They should always fool safe where they live and attend school. After all our children are God’s gift to humanity and its future wellbeing.
Universal Children’s Day therefore is an enormous opportunity to reflect on the ways each adult person can renew, priorities, approaches, involvement, provisions, etc. put forward for raising our children. It is a time to assess our job as adult, parent, teacher, neighbour, etc. to our children.
Happy Universal Children’s Day and May God Almighty Bless all our children.
Sankofa M F O Tuzinde 20th November 2010