With November being Children’s Month, some tots have shared what they think needs to happen for every child to feel included, happy and safe in society and the world.
This year's theme is “Inclusion for Every Child".
The Jellybean Journal went on a little quest to find out what children want done to make them feel included.
Ukho Simandla, 3, from Cape Town said he wanted many toys and strawberries for all the children, so they could feel included.
“South Africa can be a better place when all the children feel safe. Children would be feel safer if there were more police on the streets,” said seven-year-old Tayla Magaar.
For five-year-old Buhle Tswanya, happiness through parties was the key to all South Africans feeling included and happy.
“I would make a big party and have jumping castles. Maybe that would make everyone happy. And we would keep the lights on – so no load shedding.”
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day, and is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international unity and awareness among children around the world. Many countries still refer to it as Universal Children’s Day.
November 20, 1959 was when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the same international assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Tips on how children can celebrate this year's World Children’s Day:
1. Children can choose a toy, an article of clothing, or a book they would like to share with less fortunate children to make them feel included – all in the spirit of honouring the theme.
2. They can report a playground bully who makes other children feel less included to a teacher at their school.
3. Children on the playground can invite a lonely child to play with them, to make them feel more included.
4. Parents can take their children to a children's home to play with the less fortunate children, so they too feel included.
"This year's theme is also a message from children to adults. From climate change, education and mental health to ending racism and discrimination, children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future,“ the UN said.