On Saturday, 27th August 2022, GNRC Bhutan launched its committee in a hybrid event in Lanjophakha Thimphu, Bhutan to strengthen and reinvigorate the Network. 113 participants attended the event, among them, faith leaders, men, women, and children. The event was live streamed via the Youth Society of Social Services (YSSS) Facebook platform.

GNRC Bhutan highlighted the work of the Youth Society of Social Services (YSSS) and its impact on the community by presenting a short film, highlighting the status of various programs and accomplishments and how they impacted the community.

Dr. Dorcas Kiplagat, GNRC Network and Programs Coordinator, thanked GNRC Bhutan for the invitation to their committee launch. She introduced the four Arigatou International initiatives, GNRC’s global reach, and highlighted some of the work that GNRC does around the world to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children. She also briefly mentioned the GNRC assessment report and congratulated GNRC Bhutan for following up on the recommendation from the GNRC assessment report to strengthen and reinvigorate the Network.

GNRC Bhutan members celebrated the launch of the committee by unfolding the Khadar (Scarf), which was later conferred to the newly elected president, Thinley Yoedzer, 18 years, and the child ambassadors, Sonam Deki Pelzom, 8 years & Namgay Doeljang Tshoki, 6 years.

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GNRC Tanzania launched its committee on 31st August 2022 in a hybrid event at the United Nations (UN) House, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The event, whose objective was to strengthen and reinvigorate the Network, brought together forty-two participants from the Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths. Seven committee members led by Ms. Joyce Mdachi, GNRC Coordinator Tanzania, religious leaders, children and youth representatives, and a representative of persons with disability attended the event.

The meeting started with a prayer from Rev. Pannasekara, Chief Monk of the African Continent, and Bishop Method Kilaini, a committee member. Ms. Mdachi welcomed the attendees to the launch.

Dr. Kiplagat, GNRC Programs and Network Manager, commended GNRC Tanzania for being a model of the GNRC network. She informed the participants that the launch resulted from the recommendations of the 2020 GNRC assessment report. “We believe that the GNRC country and committee launches will expand our global reach and diversity,” she said.

Ms. Mdachi shared a presentation highlighting GNRC Tanzania’s work and achievements over the years. These achievements included engagement with children and committee members, engagement with the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) (an intercultural and interfaith program for Ethics Education), actions on ending Gender Based Violence (GBV), and advocating for vulnerable children such as those living with albinism. She remains hopeful that the challenges faced by GNRC Tanzania can be addressed through multi-stakeholder collaborations. “I would like to recognize and appreciate the efforts of the late Sr. Jean Pruitt, the Myochikai and Arigatou International family and Secretariat, the Directors of the four initiatives, and Ms. Finike Gofomoka, Zamir Noorali, Ms. Elizabeth Mwase, and Mr. Yusuf Masanja, for making a difference in the lives of children.”

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Director of Ethics Education for Children, thanked Ms. Mdachi and her team for their hard work and commitment to creating a better world for children. “We live in a globalized world with huge potential for collaboration to protect children.” She also commended GNRC Tanzania for using peace clubs to bring together children from different religious backgrounds and further emphasized the need for spiritual growth in children to grow in a safe environment.

The children presented a poem expressing the need to include children in advocacy processes that aim at bettering their lives. Two students gave speeches thanking GNRC Tanzania for all they had learned and promised to teach the same to their fellow students.

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe pronounced the GNRC Tanzania committee officially launched.

As a symbolic act to mark the committee’s launch, participants wrote their pledges advocating for the rights and well-being of children on a whiteboard.

The post GNRC Tanzania Committee Launch appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

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GNRC Tanzania launched its committee on 31st August 2022 in a hybrid event at the United Nations (UN) House, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The event, whose objective was to strengthen and reinvigorate the Network, brought together forty-two participants from the Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths. Seven committee members led by Ms. Joyce Mdachi, GNRC Coordinator Tanzania, religious leaders, children and youth representatives, and a representative of persons with disability attended the event.

The meeting started with a prayer from Rev. Pannasekara, Chief Monk of the African Continent, and Bishop Method Kilaini, a committee member. Ms. Mdachi welcomed the attendees to the launch.

Dr. Kiplagat, GNRC Programs and Network Manager, commended GNRC Tanzania for being a model of the GNRC network. She informed the participants that the launch resulted from the recommendations of the 2020 GNRC assessment report. “We believe that the GNRC country and committee launches will expand our global reach and diversity,” she said.

Ms. Mdachi shared a presentation highlighting GNRC Tanzania’s work and achievements over the years. These achievements included engagement with children and committee members, engagement with the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) (an intercultural and interfaith program for Ethics Education), actions on ending Gender Based Violence (GBV), and advocating for vulnerable children such as those living with albinism. She remains hopeful that the challenges faced by GNRC Tanzania can be addressed through multi-stakeholder collaborations. “I would like to recognize and appreciate the efforts of the late Sr. Jean Pruitt, the Myochikai and Arigatou International family and Secretariat, the Directors of the four initiatives, and Ms. Finike Gofomoka, Zamir Noorali, Ms. Elizabeth Mwase, and Mr. Yusuf Masanja, for making a difference in the lives of children.”

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Director of Ethics Education for Children, thanked Ms. Mdachi and her team for their hard work and commitment to creating a better world for children. “We live in a globalized world with huge potential for collaboration to protect children.” She also commended GNRC Tanzania for using peace clubs to bring together children from different religious backgrounds and further emphasized the need for spiritual growth in children to grow in a safe environment.

The children presented a poem expressing the need to include children in advocacy processes that aim at bettering their lives. Two students gave speeches thanking GNRC Tanzania for all they had learned and promised to teach the same to their fellow students.

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe pronounced the GNRC Tanzania committee officially launched.

As a symbolic act to mark the committee’s launch, participants wrote their pledges advocating for the rights and well-being of children on a whiteboard.

The post GNRC Tanzania Committee Launch appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post GNRC Tanzania Committee Launch appeared first on Arigatou International.

The first cohort of the GNRC Country Communications Associates (GCCAs) was inducted into the GNRC network on 17th August 2022 at a hybrid meet-and-greet session with the GNRC Secretariat. The meeting was to familiarize the GCCAs with the Secretariat staff and further deepen their understanding of their roles. The GCCAs were drawn from ten countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Comoros, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Lebanon, Palestine, and Pakistan.

GNRC country coordinators selected the GCCAs to focus on the Network’s visibility and profile on various social media channels. GCCAs highlight GNRC work at the grassroots level and content relating to children’s wellbeing.

Ms. Stacy Ndung’u, GNRC Communications Manager, welcomed the participants. She commended the GCCAs for their commitment to the Network, appreciating their work and service. Ms. Stacy further shared informed them that the GNRC secretariat was planning to conduct branding guidelines training for the team. Ms. Tracy Memusi, Communications Support, gave updates on the progress the GCCAs had made. She commended their work and encouraged the GCCAs to continue serving the children in interfaith dialogue and action.

The GCCAs made recommendations on how to increase the visibility of GNRC on social media.

The GNRC Secretary General, Dr. Mustafa Yusuf Ali, thanked the GCCAs and welcomed them to the GNRC network. He encouraged the GCCAs to contribute to the vision of the GNRC of building a better, peaceful, and just world for children and young people.

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The first cohort of the GNRC Country Communications Associates (GCCAs) was inducted into the GNRC network on 17th August 2022 at a hybrid meet-and-greet session with the GNRC Secretariat. The meeting was to familiarize the GCCAs with the Secretariat staff and further deepen their understanding of their roles. The GCCAs were drawn from ten countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Comoros, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Lebanon, Palestine, and Pakistan.

GNRC country coordinators selected the GCCAs to focus on the Network’s visibility and profile on various social media channels. GCCAs highlight GNRC work at the grassroots level and content relating to children’s wellbeing.

Ms. Stacy Ndung’u, GNRC Communications Manager, welcomed the participants. She commended the GCCAs for their commitment to the Network, appreciating their work and service. Ms. Stacy further shared informed them that the GNRC secretariat was planning to conduct branding guidelines training for the team. Ms. Tracy Memusi, Communications Support, gave updates on the progress the GCCAs had made. She commended their work and encouraged the GCCAs to continue serving the children in interfaith dialogue and action.

The GCCAs made recommendations on how to increase the visibility of GNRC on social media.

The GNRC Secretary General, Dr. Mustafa Yusuf Ali, thanked the GCCAs and welcomed them to the GNRC network. He encouraged the GCCAs to contribute to the vision of the GNRC of building a better, peaceful, and just world for children and young people.

The post GNRC Secretariat Welcomes First Cohort of Communications Associates appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post GNRC Secretariat Welcomes First Cohort of Communications Associates appeared first on Arigatou International.