In 1959, the United Nations officially adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which asserted that children are entitled to receive education and equal opportunity, such that they can develop their abilities, judgement, sense of moral and social responsibility, and ultimately, become a useful member of society. Moreover, it was agreed that children should be “protected from practices which may foster racial, religious and any other form of discrimination,” adding that, “[they]should be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace and universal brotherhood, and in full consciousness that [their]energy and talents should be devoted to the service of [their]fellow [humans].”
A lofty ideal to be sure, but certainly not anything that doesn’t seem absolutely necessary for an equitable world.
Flash forward to 1989, and the UN, working with its partners at UNICEF, went one step further when they ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlines 54 Articles describing how children the world over should be protected and advocated for, so that they all have an opportunity to thrive.
While it’s one thing for a bunch of adults in faraway places to make these rules, it is something else entirely when children themselves are privy to the plight of their peers; children the same age as them, who have few of the same chances to succeed in life.
That’s why Going Blue, a project within Yew Chung International School of Beijing’s (YCIS Beijing’s) G100 and Life Skills curriculum, is such an important initiative. According to the project’s description, Going Blue provides students at YCIS Beijing the opportunity to “[raise]awareness of and [educate]others about Children’s Rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.” They did this by working individually, or in small teams, to create public service announcements (PSAs) that touch on one of the Convention’s articles, culminating in a presentation of their work that coincides with UNICEF’s World Children’s Day on Friday (Nov 20).
When asked why he thinks this project is important, Duncan C., year 9, told beijingkids, “I think that it is important because if people don’t care about others before themselves, then there would be a ton of chaos and world wars. There wouldn’t be any progression in the making of technology.”
One of YCIS Beijing’s mission statements is to raise globally competent student leaders who exemplify the school’s commitment to the tenants of the CARES philosophy: Critically explore local and global issues; Act for and believe in a better world; Respect and value all with compassion; Ensure equality, peace, and sustainability; and Sense a belonging to humankind. And in speaking to students involved with Going Blue, it’s clear that these qualities are shining through.
According to Jenny Y., year 7, “This project has taught me that children’s rights to make decisions are widely neglected,” adding, “[Going Blue] is important because not many rights are followed and children are not being respected.”
Likewise, Seraphina W., year 8, expressed a similar sentiment when she told beijingkids that, “This project has affected me because it has taught me a lot about children’s rights.”
Despite the fact that these UN resolutions were passed 60 and 30 years ago, respectively, it’s quite clear that globally, we still have a long way to go in protecting the rights of children worldwide. Nevertheless, through projects like YCIS Beijing’s Going Blue and its student leaders, we are one step closer to ensuring an equitable future for all.
For examples of the work students did, follow the links below;
Rights of a Child PSA by Eamon
Rights of a Child PSA by Gabriel
Photos: Mina Yan
