On 6^th December 2021, GNRC coordinators and contact persons from 57 countries that the GNRC is operating in, convened for a 3-hour virtual meeting to discuss the GNRC Assessment Report and plan its implementation. The meeting was graced by the GNRC Secretary General, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali; the President of Shanti Ashram and Vice Chair of the Arigatou International Advisory Group, Dr. Kezevino Aram; and the GNRC Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean region, Mrs. Mercedes Roman.

Dr. Aram commended the efforts of the members in supporting the in-depth assessment of the global Network. She lauded members for the work they have done over the years to promote the well-being of children. She remarked that the recommendations presented in the assessment report serve as valuable markers as GNRC marches towards a stronger, more invigorated Network and the GNRC 6th Global Forum. “In the last 20 years, the GNRC has evolved considerably and there are renewed expectations and demands to deliver on the Panama Declaration and commitments,” she said.

In his presentation, Dr. Ali noted that the goal of the assessment process was to solicit members’ views on how best to reinvigorate and strengthen the GNRC as it enters its third decade. He mentioned that a total of 100 adults participated in in-depth interviews, 81 children and three Arigatou International directors took part in focus group discussions, 68 adults and 86 children filled out online surveys, while eight others answered prepared questionnaires. “Their comments, insights and recommendations will be instrumental in shaping and guiding the GNRC’s work over the coming years,” he added. Dr. Ali described the assessment as a success, noting that the exercise had been a multi-stage collaborative process of GNRC members and coordinators, children, directors and staff of the Arigatou International, and partners, that had produced a broad list of recommendations presented in the assessment report.

During the meeting, it was noted that the suggestions put forward during the exercise were cross-cutting yet wide-ranging and cover the entire length and breadth of the Network, its functions and activities. Implementing these recommendations thus would help strengthen the GNRC’s core competencies and capacity to make impact on child rights and wellbeing.

At the meeting, the GNRC Secretariat invited all coordinators and contact persons to join hands in refining the recommendations and prioritizing what is most important to members. Six cluster areas were identified within which the majority of the recommendations fall. As a next step, participants at the meeting agreed to organize working groups around each of the cluster areas as follows:

1. Working Group on Membership and Member Engagement
2. Working Group on Shared Purpose
3. Working Group on Communication
4. Working Group on Resources
5. Working Group on Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
6. Working Group on Infrastructure (Internal working group within Arigatou International)

Major recommendations from the assessment have been listed by working group in Annex 1

The working groups are the link between the recommendations and action. The extent to which the results of the working groups will influence action will depend on the acceptability and feasibility of implementation. It should also be noted that while the working groups will focus on the areas within their jurisdiction, they will often address cross-cutting issues. As such, strong coordination will be required between working groups.

The responsibilities of each working group are as follows:

1. Undertake a more complete analysis and review of the assessment recommendations that fall within the purview of the specific working group to determine feasibility. Refine the recommendations where necessary.
2. Develop a clear workplan with timelines for implementation of key recommendations
3. Mobilize and engage regional and national committee members, especially those at the grassroots, around the implementation of proposed actions
4. Ensure that children have an active role in the process

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As we come to the end of 2021, we reflect on what has been a challenging year in which the world remained deeply impacted by COVID-19. Many are entering the holiday season gripped by stress and anxiety as a result of the pandemic. We take a moment to remember those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, and those who have lost their livelihoods.

On a positive note, we mark an important milestone in the history of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC). This year, the GNRC Secretariat conducted an extensive assessment of the global Network, which you may be pleased to note now has organizational presence in 61 countries.

The goal of the assessment process was to solicit members’ views on how best to reinvigorate and strengthen the GNRC as it enters its third decade. A total of 100 adults participated in in-depth interviews, 81 children and three Arigatou International directors took part in focus group discussions, 68 adults and 86 children filled out online surveys, while eight others answered prepared questionnaires. Their comments, insights and recommendations will be instrumental in shaping and guiding the GNRC’s work over the coming years. In this regard, I am pleased to share that we are well on course to implementing the recommendations provided during the assessment.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family happy holidays, and a very blessed and fruitful new year.

May the New Year bring more opportunities for us to collaborate in building a better world for children.

Yours in service,

Mustafa Y. Ali (PhD)
Director, Arigatou International Nairobi, and
Secretary General, Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)

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Fred Nyabera, the Director of Arigatou International – End Child poverty has been elected to serve in the International Partnership on Religion and Development (PaRD) steering group for the period 2021 – 2023. He is among 6 individuals elected in the new steering group, drawn from Faint Based Organisations, Civil Society and Academia, representing various organisations around the world. The organisations include; Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa, Islamic Relief Worldwide, United Sikhs, World Council of Churches and World Vision.

Election of the new steering group took place earlier this month (November), followed by PaRD General Assembly where a formal hand over between the current and the newly elected Steering Group took place.

Aside from the handover, the General Assembly provided an opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned, discuss current challenges in the field of religion and sustainable development and set priorities of work. It is in this view that the Director, Arigatou International – End Child Poverty took part in the panel on Ending Extreme Poverty & Ensuring Food Security, during the Assembly. He further sought opportunity to present the nascent Sustainable Development Goals Academy for Children; a safe learning space and programme for children to contribute to the global development agenda.

PaRD is a unique and dynamic global multi-stakeholder partnership. It brings together religious and other civil society organisations, intergovernmental and governmental entities and academia. It focuses on the positive potentials and contributions of religious actors to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

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During the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2021 on 19^th November 2021 held in Dubai, the GNRC Secretary General, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, was invited to moderate a dialogue session on, “Prioritizing children’s social, emotional, and spiritual well-being in times of crisis.” The topic of discussion, which was within the overarching theme of the event (Wear My Shoes Campaign), sought to analyze the challenges children and young people undergo, especially during COVID-19 period.

Participating in the panel discussion was Ms. Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; Dr. Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Peace Nobel Laureate; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, JD. Vice Chair, The International Conference of Rabbis and Executive Vice President, The New York Board of Rabbis; Dr. Husna Ahmad, Secretary-General, World Muslim Leadership Forum; and Dr. Reham Abdullah Salamah, Al- Azhar University.

It was evident that prioritizing children’s social, emotional and spiritual well-being in times of crisis was key in promoting children’s wellbeing, in particular, how the world can adapt sustainable solutions to address the mental health of children and young people as the world campaigns for children to return to school.

At the onset, Dr. Ali noted that Arigatou International and its initiatives believes that all children are equal and should have equal rights including access to basic needs, quality education, healthcare among other rights. “It is because of these rights that Prayer and Action for Children hosted a meeting not only to commemorate the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children but also to discuss on the welfare of children. We owe children that much,” he stated.

During the discussion, it was noted that the pandemic immobilized the operations of schools and learning institutions which made students loose significantly in their studies and interaction with friends. The pandemic also opened opportunities for children to be exposed to different forms of violence including recruitment to gang groups, and domestic, sexual, emotional and physical violence.

In her presentation, Dr. Ahmad talked about mental health holistically as an increasing problem that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. She underscored that the world needs to acknowledge that mental health is a reality and everyone has a role in addressing it extensively. She added that it is because of this negligence that the youth are resorting to drugs and substance abuse or joining violent groups because there is no one to listen to the them.

Both Dr. Esquivel and Rabbi Potasnik attributed to the purity of children noting that it is the role of adults to make sure that every child is treated with dignity and protected from any form of exploitation or violence. “What we expose children to today will determine the adults and leaders we produce tomorrow. Let’s act responsibly,” noted Rabbi Potasnik.

In her presentation, Dr. Abdullah noted that the world needs to go back to the teachings and practices of religious scriptures in its entirety. She noted that religion in its purest form, advocates for the protection and nurturing of children and their wellbeing. She added that the rights of a child begin from as early as in the womb and are enshrined in every faith and spiritual tradition across the world. “It is up to us to conform to these already existing teachings,” she said.

Concluding the discussion, Dr. Ali noted that every child has the right to shine and thrive in life and this can only be achieved if their growth is nurtured. He added that aside from negative aspects of the pandemic, the world had witnessed positive moments worth noting including the fact that the pandemic had promoted relations between siblings, parents and their children, and promoted coexistence within the community. He also noted the positive progress made in the development of vaccines against the virus. He added that working remotely enabled the world to advance in online technology. As he celebrated these milestones, he acknowledged that there was still a long way to go before we could create a better world for children.

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