Youth get oriented to children’s issues the fun way, to take up their cause

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Vibrant youngsters participated in an elaborate treasure hunt, enthusiastically blurted out answers of a quiz, became part of group activities and discussions and focused intently on statistics and information presented by experts.

These youngsters were part of a volunteer camp organised by NGO OaSis with support of UNICEF. About 70 youngsters, from 11 different youth groups, imbibed various aspects of challenges faced by children in a fun way and thrashed out possible actions and solutions to them. The focal theme was care of newborn babies and immunisation.

The objective of the camp, held at Halali Dam resort, was dual – to bring together youth of different socio-cultural groups to expand their network and to sensitise them to children’s issues so that they could take up their (children’s) causes at all possible levels and platforms.

Michael Juma, Chief of UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh who participated in the camp spoke to young people.  He said that ‘Youth can be inspire and sensitise people to bring about necessary changes for children. They can not only stop wrong happening to children in their vicinity, but make people aware on the need for children’s care and safety and the ways to ensure them by creating enabling environment.’

Anil Gulati , Communication Specialist of UNICEF spoke about ‘youth4 children’ concept and how it can make a difference to lives of children of the State. Dr Saurabh Saxena, Health Consultant of UNICEF made a presentation on new born care and immunisation.

Pradeep Ghosh of Oasis shared that the activities for youth were designed in a way that the youngsters enjoyed them also learnt about the issue from experts and from each other. He also made a presentation on common assessment tool which can be tried among various groups.

Volunteers of SWANS youth group and Oasis worked as resource persons. Pooja Ahirwar who works on issue of sanitation, Manohar who works on issues of child rights, Anil Gulati, Kokila Bhhatacharya and Shibani Ghosh, presented challenges for children to different working groups of youth so that they could come out with possible solutions and contribute to the cause.

“We remain busy with our study or work routinely. We also try to do some small positive things. But this camp has made us realise the immense necessity to work on children’s issues and how to go about it,” Mahim Mishra, a participant said.

“I had a fair idea about issues of children, but it was good to get detailed knowledge on some issues and to interact with peers towards addressing the issue,” Shayali Choudhury said.