The Power of Our Voices, Why Child Participation Matters.

As a child, I often feel like my opinions don’t matter. But I believe that when we as kids, are included in decision-making, amazing things can happen! Child participation is not just a buzzword; it’s a powerful way to express ourselves and make a real difference in our communities.

Think about it, when we join discussions about issues that affect us like climate change or our school environment our voices can lead to better decisions. For instance, I attended the Teens Innovation Week at Safaricom, where we got to explore coding and use Makey Makey to create fun projects. It was exciting to see how our ideas came to life through technology! Events like this show that when kids are given the tools and opportunities to innovate, we can contribute valuable solutions to real-world problems.

Being involved in these activities also teaches us responsibility. When we share our thoughts and work together with adults, we learn how to communicate effectively and collaborate. It’s empowering to know that our ideas can shape our surroundings.

So, how can we encourage more child participation? 

First, we can start by speaking up! Whether it’s in class, at home, or in our communities, sharing our ideas is the first step. We can also join clubs or groups that focus on youth advocacy. By working together, we can show adults that our voices deserve to be heard.

Let’s inspire each other to take action! Together, we can make sure that our opinions matter and create a brighter future for all children. After all, we are the leaders of tomorrow, and our voices are powerful!

By Alice Njoki.