It often feel that as adults, we’ve screwed up the world around us. Why haven’t we done or spoken up more about the things that matter to us? It’s a crying shame, but by the time we become adults, many of us have already become jaded, thinking that there is little we can do to impact the things that so badly need to change in this world. But kids – now they’re a different story. They have an incredible natural sense of optimism and sense of justice. But how can we channel the incredible force of youth to change the world? After all, they are the ones who are going to be living with the consequences of the decisions made today.
Introducing the Children’s General Assembly
The annual UN General Assembly will be held in New York City in September. But this year, it will be mirrored by the international Children’s General Assembly in Billund.
This is the FIRST EVER Children’s General Assembly to take place in history. It will launch debates worldwide to challenge political thinking. ALL CHILDREN aged 10 and 17 – including yours – are invited to participate and to put forward their ideas to create a better future.
Time is of the essence
If your children want to be heard and help change the world – and what child wouldn’t quite frankly – then they need to sign up for this to be done before next Wednesday 7th April.
This is an incredible opportunity for them to share their ideas about the things they care about, their concerns, and their passions for the world that they will ultimately inherit. And this is their invitation.
Children have the right to be heard
Whether your children have a view on global warming, increasing carbon emissions, plastic in the world’s oceans and in the food we eat, loss of wildlife habitat and of our ancient forests, worldwide inequality made worse by the pandemic and by wars; refugees suffering from starvation, serious injury and homelessness – this is their chance to be heard.
All children from around the world, regardless of religion, gender or nationality, are invited to sign up and join the Children’s General Assembly, to present and debate their ideas. Children will collaborate across various regions of the world and draft a shared manifesto.
Their views will then be taken by their representatives to Billund for the Children’s General Assembly in September 2021. The joint speech and resolutions will be presented at the Children’s General Assembly in Billund, voted on, finalised, and then delivered to UN delegates in New York.
I think you’ll have to agree that being part of this united voice is powerful stuff indeed.
PLEASE, do not let your children miss out on this important opportunity to have their voices and opinions heard. The goal here is not only to show the world what children want and what they are capable of. The goal is to help make the world a better place to grow up.
So how does it actually work?
- All children aged between 10 and 17 years of age – regardless of nationality, religion, gender, disability, or any other prerequisites – are welcome to join the Children’s Assembly. Simply register here – free of charge, by Wednesday, 7th April, 2021. Those who sign up after that date can still view and comment on the Assembly meeting in September.
- Virtual groups of children will meet in groups of eight, and will work together democratically – alongside professionally-trained adults – over the six months leading to the Assembly in Billund. They will decide on the topics on which they wish to focus, will debate them, and will reach agreement on the topics to be presented at the Summit itself.
- An estimated 80 children from 40 different nations will participate in three online workshops in April and May to tackle the important issues of their choice. Only a few children from each country will be selected to ensure diversity. The children will join groups based on their interest in particular issues, with a spokesperson from each group presenting their ideas in a virtual workshop in June. Professional facilitators from Billund will encourage children to think both critically and creatively.
- They will co-create a speech to deliver at the Children’s General Assembly, in Billund.
- A group of 8 to 16 children, with a senior family member or caregiver, will travel to Billund to present their agreed speeches to those gathered and to vote on the key points to be included in the joint Manifesto to be presented to world leaders in New York, at the United Nations General Assembly, on 21st September. Children worldwide will join them virtually throughout this process.
How to get them involved and be the change they want to see
For more information and to sign up for the Children’s General Assembly, visit https://capitalofchildren.com/children-s-general-assembly
And please, do share this post as far and wide as possible so that more children can take up this incredible opportunity to have their views and voices heard.
Cover picture credit: Background photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com
This is such an awesome idea! I think we need so much more of this kind of encouragement for our kids in the world. They’re the next generation that will make big changes.
What an incredible opportunity for kids! I would love to sign my daughters up.
Glad to hear of events like this. I’ll share this to my social media.
This is so inspiring. I love learning about how kids can make a difference
It is so nice to know an event that will encourage the kids to be more confident and to be heard with regards to their opinions about changing the world. Definitely a great opportunity for them, will share this with others.
It is so nice to know an event that will encourage the kids to be more confident and to be heard with regards to their opinions about changing the world. Definitely a great opportunity for them, will share this with others.
I completely agree! Just because children are young does not mean that they don’t have creative ideas. I love that this initiative gives them a chance to speak up and have their voices heard!
That seems like a great event. I would love to sign my daughters up because they are the future literally. Thanks for sharing!
Such a great initiative and a golden opportunity for the kids to present their strong ideas ❤️ I’ll share this with my family and friends who have kids.
wow! This is such an awesome idea! This way they will feel important and will be sure that their opinion meters.
Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad that you are encouraging kids to change the world. They are our future and they deserve to see changes that would make a difference.
love this!