Barnardos is marking World Children’s Day by emphasising the importance of listening to what children have to say.
November 20 2019 – Barnardos is marking World Children’s Day by emphasising the importance of listening to what children have to say.
#WorldChildrensDay
Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO said “Barnardos is delighted to mark World Children’s Day on the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child. The importance of listening to children and young people can’t be underestimated, their opinions are always insightful. This year we talked to children and young people that we work with about being a child in 2019 and what grown-ups need to do to make it better. Here are some of their answers:
What is it like to be a child in 2019?
“I love being a child in 2019…but kids scarcely talk in person anymore now it’s only online chat groups. People don’t go out playing anymore or even interact with their families” (Girl, 11, Limerick).
“It’s good being a child in 2019 but social media is sometimes an issue and climate change the beaches [are] full of plastic and we want to be able to be in our seas by 2022” (Girl, 14, Dublin).
What can grown-ups do to make better?
“Kids need to know they can trust an adult and that they have someone to talk to (for eg having one good adult). Kids need to know that someone is there for them” (Girl, 14, Dublin).
“By comforting me when I am sad” (Girl, 10, Dublin).
Suzanne Connolly, continued: “Surprise, surprise, when asking children about how we should mark World Children’s Day a little boy in Limerick said he would like to have no homework! And why not, just for today”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare. #worldchildrensday
For further information, please contact:
Barnardos Press Office: 01 7080442 / 086 0445966
Rachel Boyce; 01 7080443
Trudy McCarthy; 01 7080423
Visit Barnardos Media Centre www.barnardos.ie/media
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Twitter: @Barnardos_IRL
Instagram: @barnardos_irl
About Barnardos
Barnardos helps transform children’s lives through their services; by supporting parents; and by challenging society where it fails children. Barnardos works in over 40 projects across the country and was established in Ireland in 1962. www.barnardos.ie