"2009 EASTER SCHOOL" LAUNCHED -CRI.

Child's Right International a Non Governmental Organisation has formally launched this year's Easter School for children in Accra. Theme for the celebration is "Growing child participation through service learning". Speaking at the launch,the Executive Director of Child's Right International Mr.Bright Appiah said the main objective of Easter school is to promote children's involvment in issues that affects them.It is also to nurture sense of responsibility in every child.Our philosphy as an organisation is that "an adult is a child who has survived" therefore we recognised the need to promote child participation in the growing process of child into adult.He said child participation ensures expression of opinion,self confidence,enhances self involvement and provides understanding for children to better appreciate issues that affect them.Mr.Appiah further stated that "the school has also provided the platform to dicuss and share issues at the national level and issue communique that reflect their own understandin,thinking and suggestions". Outlining activities for this years celebratuion he said,the school will host nine African countries courtesy UNHCR and children form all the regions in Ghana. Issues to be discussed include the right of the child and education,the state of gender of gender base violence against children in schools,the right of children in country of asylum and children as an instrument for community service. Others include Right to maintenance and rehabilitation,the role of the law,investing in childrten to promote investment and championing the rights of children with disability for community development. "Children will also seize the opportunity to discuss election 2008 and conflict in Ghana and share their views and opinions". Mr.Appiah said the expected outcome of the Easter school is for children to have understanding on the issues,participate in the process and issue communique that represent their views and concerns.Easter school was instituted in 2001 by Child's Right International with support from UNICEF. The event is one medium child's Right International uses to promote child participation in the country.

BY:Michael Amedor