Written by Alice Njoki
More than 200 children in Turkana are finding an interesting way to speak about their rights through drama, poetry, music and dance. Learners from schools in Nanam and Lokichoggio wards came together at AIC Girls Comprehensive School for the second edition of the Child Rights Creative Arts Festival, turning their creative talents into a way of speaking about the experiences and concerns that matter to them.
The children are members of Child Rights Clubs in their schools, and for weeks they worked with their teachers to prepare the performances. Their poems, songs, dances and skits focused on important rights, including the right to education, safety and adequate nutrition. They also addressed child labour, child marriage and different forms of abuse issues that can affect a child’s ability to learn, grow and live safely.
Through their performances, the learners called on parents, and spoke about rights violations affecting them and their peers.
The festival was organised by Africa Ichers and other adults responsible for children’s wellbeing to create safer environments where children can learn and play. This makes the festival more than a showcase of talent. It gives children a way to communicate what they believe should change and to land Church Health Ministries with support from ERIKS Development Partner, a child rights organisation working in Turkana West. According to AICHM Child Protection Officer Divina Esekon, the creative activities were introduced into the Child Rights Clubs as part of the schools’ co-curricular activities. The approach also fits within the Competency-Based Curriculum, which encourages schools to develop learners’ talents and life skills alongside academic learning.
The children are also gaining confidence through the programme. Organisers said the rehearsals and performances have helped learners become better at expressing themselves and speaking about child rights violations. Parents, teachers and local administrators who attended the festival also gained information on how to identify cases of child abuse and seek help through the relevant authorities.
The work does not end on the festival stage. AICHM, together with partners including I Choose Life Africa, Lokichoggio Emuriakin Development Organisation, child protection volunteers and government agencies, has supported Child Rights Clubs in the two wards. The programme has also contributed to the establishment of a Children’s Parliament, giving children another platform to participate in decision-making and activities such as the Day of the African Child and World Children’s Day.
By turning their creativity into a voice for their rights, these children are showing that advocacy does not always have to happen through formal meetings or speeches. Sometimes, a poem, a dance, a song or a short drama can carry a powerful message especially when children are given the chance to tell their own stories and speak about what they need to be safe, learn and grow.