Children Forum 2022

On 30th December 2022, BCN has conducted children forum in Ngiryi cell, Jabana sector of Gsabo District. The participants were recently elected children committee members, Youth representatives, Inshuti Z’Umuryango (Friends of Family), invited local leaders and other children from the community who showed their talents through different artwork and the event took place at BCN Office. This activity is done as a follow up of children committee elections held national wide where BCN took part as organization promoting child participation as the activity was guided by National Child Davelopment Agency (NCDA).
The president of children committee in Jabana sector was adressing the participants while encouraging children to share their concerns with leaders/adults as well as calling adults responding to the needs of the children. 

The children were given opportunity to discuss in small groups facilitated by BCN members together with IZU and came up with summary from the discussion which was presented in entire group. The group discussions were guided by the following two questions:

1) What are the problems or challenges faced by children in your community?

2) How do you suggest those identified problems or challenges would be resolved?

Below are participants in small groups and presentations in front of entire group.

Different challenges have been identified such as school drop-out, family conflict, children abuse, street children and others.

They have come up with different suggestions like sharing information with local leaders, educating parents/caregivers about children’s rights, children committee work closely with the identified children at risk so that they can be open and share their problems which will be reported with the concerned authorities.

Before closing the program, the children who have prepared their artwork performed and all participants shared cake and drinks as way of cerebrating upcoming New Year of 2023.

BCN will continue working closely with the children, particularly the children who have leadership positions. Each year BCN will support the children committee to organize such forum in order to promote the child participation. BCN would like to thank all its partners who help to achieve its vision of promoting child friendly environment where children's voice and participation are valued.