By JOSEPH LAKANE
World Vision (PNG)'s concern for children suffering from sexual abuses, child labor and their denial to basic right like education and health was evident this week.
The faith based organization took three days to observe the International children's day. Children between the ages of 7 to 18, as this age group is regarded as children, celebrated their day from Monday to Wednesday with various activities.
Children from the organization's targets sites of Kanudi, Hagwa, Gabi, Hanuabada, Ranuguri, Koki, Sabama, Konebada, and Joyce came in bus loads to the Joyce Bay market hall to celebrate.
On Monday the Port Moresby Vulnerable Children and Strongim Pikinini Na Yut projects presented 500 children with T-shirts and sports equipment. The children also sang songs and played drama to make the day enjoyable.
Tuesday was the universally recognized date for International Children's day. On this day selected children from each project site came to Kami Memorial church. The event was organized by the Department of Community Development. Other organizations who involve in the safe and wellbeing of children were there too.
The Joyce Bay children who are supported by World Vision's vulnerable children project presented two songs. With the songs focused on the occasion, the clear tone and the music really forced the crowd to totally observe the day.
The music group comprising children between the ages of 7 to 11 backed by lead sing Sarah and her cousin Simon Kumi who took control of the keyboard. It really made the crowd to recollect and reflect on how they had either recognized or abused their own children.
It was during this day the Children's minister who rushed in after searching for similar celebrations everywhere in the city. Even when she was not served any invitation letter from her officers, she still has to look for it.
"I can admit again now that since I became an MP, I ever stood for the children," said the minister Carol Kidu. "We have oil, gas and other minerals but the greatest wealth of this nation is our children. If we neglect them, we are not building a nation towards prosperity," added the minister.
Building a prosperous nation using this invaluable wealth who are our children, World Vision has 5 projects working in nearly all the outskirts of NCD and several local motuan villages.
The Vulnerable children and Strongim Pikinini na Yut basically involve in empowering youth and children to create child friendly communities while Bisnis bilong ol meri and Meri I gat Namba works empower women in communities through micro-business activities and other social activities.
The Positive Living, Tingim Laip, TB Dot and De-worming projects ensures health and other social factors that destabilize a family unit, especially children.
On Wednesday, more than 100 children turned up at Joyce Bay market field for the final celebration. The children from all the project sites came in by bus loads. Most in their printed T shirts World Vision presented a day earlier while some in traditional regalia and other in unusual attires, which they prepared for drama and dances.
The day began with the Bomana Correctional services drum and back pipers from leading the children with their blue colours with banners on air reading, 'papa, mi gat rait long go long skul', and 'em rong bilong husat long mi no kaikai na slip gut' (Dad I have the right to go to school, and whose fault is it that I am not taking proper food and sleep).
Then at stage, the master of ceremony welcomed the guests to witness the event let the children go on with their activities because they have to eat in the next two hours and start again.
Children from all ethnic groups turned including those from West Papua. The activities ranged from West Papuan warrior dance by those living in Kilakila and the Samoan dance by the Hanuabada children.
String band groups with special songs composed for the occasion were one part of the activity that made people observe the day as special for children.
The children really wanted the show to go on till late afternoon but the World Vision organizers have to stop it because of the heavy downfall.
World Vision, a faith based non government organization that keeps its profile low even when their efforts deserve recognition has a mission statement that they stick to; "Our Vision for every child, life in all its fullness, our prayer for every heart, the will to do it so".
For Children who did not know that November 20 was the Children's International Day and for those who knew but could not celebrate for reasons they only know, World Vision reminds you that our thoughts were with you.


 

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