Looking into the reality of society, one can realize the status of children in India is much different from the written frames of the constitution. The three days CRC Leadership residential training for the leaders from different child rights clubs was organized on 10 to 12 October 2018 at Don Bosco Child Labour Mission, Davangere where 68 leaders from CRCs attended the training. The main objective of the training was to infill the children with leadership qualities and knowledge on child rights so as to empower them as agents of change for child rights protection.
The training began with the inauguration which marked the presence of important dignitaries namely Fr. Cyril Sagayaraj, Director, DBCLM and Member, CWC, Davangere, Mr. Y. Ramanaik, Chairperson, CWC, Davangere, Mr. Marappa, Head Master GHPS, Giddanakatte, , Mr. Manjappa. B, Coordinator, CREAM Project, Rakshitha, CRC member, Bilichodu and Anil, CRC member from Harapanahalli. The training tried to pay justice to the objective of CREAM by empowering and directing the potentials of children with resourceful knowledge for initiating advocacy actions for the prevention of violations against children. The children were educated on the rights ensured under Indian Constitution, vulnerable situations and risk scenarios. The children were introduced to the Government schemes for school education and the fundamental facilities of model school. The human rights, CRC concepts, meeting methods of CRC, gender equality and environment conservation topics were incorporated during the training.
The children raised their questions and doubts and took practical decisions based on the training. The children decided to report any incidence of child right violations that they come across. A memorandum to gram panchayath and KSCPCR seeking permission to conduct children’s Grama Sabha was initiated by children. The training strengthened the children for taking responsible actions and opened their perspectives to be responsible individuals rather than be passive.
The training concluded with the valedictory function. The guests who made their presence during the concluding ceremony were Fr. Dominic, Director, Sujyothi, Fr. Jose Joseph, Administrator, Mr. Ajay, Head Master Government High School, Nitturu, Madigesh, and Kavana, CRC leaders. The children expressed their immense pleasure to be part of the training as they were motivated to initiate actions against violations of child rights.
