Explore the UN rights of the child and decorate a string of them to hang up at home.
Before you start
- Print the summary of the UNCRC – one copy per 2/3 participants. Or you could project this or show it on a big screen if you have one of these available
- Flipchart paper and pens
- Index cards (ideally), if not card or paper and scissors
- Hole punch per 4 participants
- Coloured pens or pencils
What to do
Introduction to the UNCRC
Explain that in 1989, governments across the world adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), recognising that all children have certain rights.
The leaders of the world agreed that all children in all countries have the same fundamental rights. From the wealthiest to the poorest, these rights do not change. The Convention sets out what countries must do to ensure that all children can enjoy their rights, regardless of who they are, or where they are from.
What does it say?
Then get the group into pairs or threes. Give them flipchart paper and pens, and say they have 5 minutes to write down all the rights they think are in the convention. There are 42 in total. Set a timer. When the time is up go round the groups and get them to say a right they wrote down, check if it is in the list and if so check who else has it. If you want you can award points and give a small prize like stickers to the group who get the most.
Then give each group a printed summary of the rights enshrined in the convention, or project it/display it on a screen so everyone can see. This goes through the key parts of the bill and explains what their rights are as children.
They should discuss the following in their groups:
- Which are most important to you?
- Do any seem less important?
- Which do you think are the hardest to achieve for every child?
Making your string of rights:
Give out the materials and demonstrate the steps for young people as you explain them:
- If you don’t have index cards, cut your card/paper to the same size. You could fold A4 card/paper in half length ways, and then in half twice width ways as a guide.
2. Use a hole punch to make holes on all 4 corners of your pieces of paper / cards.
3. Draw or write on the paper/cards the rights that you feel are the most important (this can be as many as you want – maybe it is all of them!). You might want to draw a picture of what that right is or explain in words why it is important to you.
4. Attach your cards together by putting string through the holes you made in the corners. If you like you can put them in the order of importance (according to each group).
5. Explain that they can hang their string of rights in their home. You could put it in your window for those passing by your home to see too. This is a great reminder of the basic rights that you think are important, and a way to tell others in your household about them – especially the adults.
