Our children’s rights program targets children both in school and out of school, of 6 – 12 years and 13 -17 years, with initiatives that advance children’s rights and ensure holistic development of the child. Our interventions focus on promoting access to quality education, health, shelter, nutrition, a clean environment, and mental well-being. We combine rights education, life skills training, and play to promote mental health and holistic development. Because Play contributes to the development of cognitive skills and emotional development, we use Play to enhance learning, i.e. Learning through Play, and to promote mental health, i.e. Thriving through Play. We strive to ensure the voices and contributions of children in decision-making are valued and prioritized as a critical component of inclusivity, intergenerational equity and long-term community transformation.
Learning/Thriving through Play approaches capitalize on the natural curiosity and the playful nature of children by creating a safe space for them to play, explore, learn and make sense of the world around them. They also develop social skills and confidence that make them resilient and not easily overwhelmed by circumstances or stressors. Play can be free, guided, or in the form of a structured game.
Safeguarding is a key component of our work with children. We emphasize zero tolerance for exploitation and abuse. All staff, volunteers, and partners are sensitized on our child protection standards and are expected to adhere to strict codes of conduct. We prioritize the safety, dignity, and best interests of every child in all our activities and ensure that child participation is always voluntary and age appropriate.We uphold the principle of informed consent and assent.