Day of the African Child; Global Foundation for Public Speaking (GFPS) Hailed

By Julia Portia

This year‘s Day of the African Child was themed “Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development.” The theme builds on the momentum created by the commemorations of the day in 2017; which was themed “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunity.” The pinnacle is poised on mainstreaming of children‘s rights in all developmental programs by the Member States, that is through Agenda 2030, Agenda 2040 and Agenda 2063 respectively.

 In 1991, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then Organization for African Unity (OAU)  instituted the Day of the African Child (DAC) in memory of the 16th June 1976  student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. At that time, students marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their own languages.

It was a hive of activities at West Gate Shopping Center, with at least 1000 students from various schools gathered by Global Foundation for Public Speaking (GFPS) at a Kwanzaa event done through Quiz and Debate. The Kwanzaa event focuses on creating a platform for students to learn several issues bordering on: civic engagement, financial literacy, financial inclusion and the platform is also attributed in grooming young leaders. GFPS is a renowned educational trust that grooms young people, give them a life and imparts effective communication skills, develops self-directed learners and builds the capacity of students through public speaking centered activities.

Apostle T. Ndebele the Guest Speaker gave an electric leadership session, citing key issues that the youth should integrate in their lives. He noted that one cannot be a leader without having the ability to lead the self. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Deputy Director for Banking Mrs. A. Hove who was the Guest of Honor gave a resounding speech, hailed the Global Foundation for Public Speaking (GFPS) for such a platform, where students come together to debate key issues that affect them, she noted the importance of financial inclusion and cited that the Government through the Reserve Bank has intensified financial inclusion for youth.

The other partners present include the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO), the Executive Director of NAYO Misheck Gondo during his closing remarks statement thanked GFPS for complementing the Zimbabwe Youth Policy and Section 20 of the Zimbabwe Constitution in providing a platform for youth to develop leadership skills,  to debate and come with sustainable solutions in issues affecting them.

In celebrating the Day of the Africa Child, it is of great fundamentality to highlight the linkages between Agenda 2030 and Children’s Rights as well as stressing that the implementation of all 17 Agenda 2030 goals is crucial for the implementation of all rights for children.  Member States in Africa must take into account the inter-connectedness between Agenda 2030 and the Charter that prescribes children‘s rights. At national level the government must move from rhetoric to reality in observing the rights of children and youth, with programs that practically gives a voice.