.gif)
A local children’s group last week scooped the 2008 San Marino-Alexander Bodini Foundation Children’s Awards in New York.
Kids Link Fiji (KLF), established in 2003 is a child-led organization promoting children’s rights in Fiji, and is supported by Save the Children Fiji.
KLF was nominated for the awards by UNICEF Pacific, and it has won US $20,000 along with two other children’s groups from India and Nigeria.
UNICEF’s social policy officer, Mereia Carling said it was amazing to see a children’s group, which is managed and operated by children still standing strong after its five years of operations.
“The group has achieved a lot over the past years in the areas of promoting child’s rights, their responsibilities, and their participation in family matters and community and it is an astounding achievement they have gained for the children of Fiji,” she said.
President of KLF Alumni, Sera Volavou, said the group began with a few children who were willing to be part of the group that promoted the rights of children.
“We are happy to see it successful and are planning to implement more programs to help promote more of the issue.”
Some of the activities they had undertaken were production of a movie called ‘My Dream’, perform drama in schools and communities, prepared commercials on children’s rights, investigating and informing people about child’s rights.
The group also plans to prepare and perform skits for television.
Chief executive of Save the Children Fiji, Chandra Shekhar said such work from the group encouraged the children of Fiji to exercise their rights.
“Their works will make these children good ambassadors of child’s rights and it is overwhelming to see that children are given recognition world wide and Fiji is recognized by KLF’s work.
“This group will help reduce the generation gap that exists for decision making and help eliminate abuses against children such as child sexual exploitation and corporal punishment,” he said.
