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.

The post GNRC SG leads a Panel Discussion on Prioritizing Children’s Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-being appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post GNRC SG leads a Panel Discussion on Prioritizing Children’s Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-being appeared first on Arigatou International.

On the occasion of the 2021 World Day of Prayer and Action for Children commemoration held on 19^th November 2021 in Dubai, U.A.E, the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Secretary General, Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, convened a roundtable for coordinators and contact persons from the GNRC in the Middle East and the North Africa region. The meeting, which was hosted by GNRC member Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, was attended by Dr. Reham Abdullah from Al Azhar University, Egypt; Mr. Khaled Batarseh, from Arab Woman and Child for Training & Development, Jordan; and Mr. Faraz Hashmi from the host organization. Other coordinators that attended included Dr. Shazmin Rafeeq from I CAN Malaysia, and Dr. Husna Ahmad, Secretary General of World Muslim Leadership Forum, and CEO of Global One 2015. The event was graced by the Director of Arigatou International End Child Poverty, Rev. Fred Nyabera.

During the meeting, the GNRC Secretary General, welcomed members and explained that the meeting aimed to strengthen all its networks which includes building and strengthening the network in Middle East region with key focus on nurturing interfaith coexistence. He noted that in its efforts to build a robust network for twenty years, the GNRC had expanded in its grassroots work and reach and is coordinated by a team of 61 coordinators and contact persons in 61 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America. He thanked the GNRC coordinators and grassroots volunteers for their tireless efforts, in ensuring the network is working with people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to build a better world for children. He specifically welcomed Dr. Husna Ahmad from United Kingdom to the GNRC to consider forming a network in her country.

In his presentation, Dr. Ali introduced the GNRC Assessment Report and the results of the survey, contained in the summary report. He shared that in the year 2020, the GNRC Secretariat carried out an extensive assessment covering the entire GNRC network around the world. He noted that the process involved an analysis of data collected throughout the network in a very thorough and broad-ranging process using multiple quantitative and qualitative methods. He added that the secretariat hopes that the results of the assessment and implementation of the recommendations shared in the summary report will help to reinvigorate and strengthen the GNRC, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members commended the effort of the GNRC secretariat and noted that the impact of the network has been felt by countless children worldwide more specifically during the pandemic. They recommended that the summary version of the report be shared widely to amplify grassroots work.

The post Strengthening and Reinvigorating the GNRC in the Middle East Region appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post Strengthening and Reinvigorating the GNRC in the Middle East Region appeared first on Arigatou International.

On 25^th November 2021 the GNRC Secretariat through its Network in Kenya convened a roundtable meeting in Nairobi for partners to respond to the multi-dimensional impacts of COVID-19 on children and youth. The partner’s roundtable gathered together 20 participants from the Network in Kenya including representatives from the Department for Children Services, Islamic Foundation Kenya, The Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa – Elim Church, Mombasa, World Vision Kenya, Bare Care, Partnership for Economic Policy, Centre for Sustainable Conflict Resolution, National Muslim Leaders Forum, The Cry Of A Young One, and Kesho Alliance.

Discussions at the roundtable centered on experience-sharing on the impact of COVID-19 on children in Kenya and neighboring countries. The meeting came up with recommendations for action, that could be spearheaded by the partners and other like-minded organizations. The discussions were guided by the 2020 Arigatou International Global Week of Faith in Action for Children, which highlighted the need for interfaith action in mitigating the problems affecting children during the pandemic.

Participants highlighted the challenges children faced including lack of quality education, mental health, and nutrition; noting that the pandemic had exacerbated inequalities and other forms of poverty and violence against children. It was further observed that radicalization into violent extremism had spiked during the pandemic period.

The roundtable echoed the need for concerted and collaborative efforts, including awareness raising, social protection, and research and advocacy, in responding to the impact of the pandemic. Some of the suggested actions were food donations, provision of hygiene packs (masks, sanitizers, and soaps), awareness creation on risk-reduction, providing psychosocial support, and mobilizing financial support to support the livelihoods of underprivileged families and other vulnerable groups in the community including children with disability.

Discussions concluded with members committing to strengthen collaborations among partners and move forward in implementing the recommendations made, and building upon the 2020 Global Week of Faith in Action for Children and the GNRC Panama Declaration on Ending Violence Against Children.

The post GNRC Kenya Convenes a Partners Roundtable to Respond to the Multi-dimensional Impacts of COVID-19 on Children appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post GNRC Kenya Convenes a Partners Roundtable to Respond to the Multi-dimensional Impacts of COVID-19 on Children appeared first on Arigatou International.

On the 19^th of November 2021, GNRC members in the Middle East and the North Africa (MENA) region were invited by Prayer and Action for Children to the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children celebrations in Dubai, UAE. The event, which was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in UAE, was attended by about a hundred participants from the UAE government, international and local civil society organizations, interfaith organizations, and private institutions. The event was also attended by three Arigatou International Directors: Ms. Rebeca Rios Kohn, Director of Prayer and Action for Children; Rev. Fred Nyabera, Director of End Child Poverty and Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, Secretary General of the GNRC and Director of Arigatou International – Nairobi. Faith leaders from all the major faiths and spiritual traditions across the world joined the event to offer their prayers during the interfaith service.

During the global hybrid (physical and virtual) ceremony, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, welcomed participants to the prayer and action ceremony and expressed his joy for having UAE host such a meeting through the Interfaith Alliance for Safe Communities. He noted that the government of UAE is keen to promote interfaith coexistence among the diverse cultures in UAE. Sheikh Nahyan pointed to the importance of protecting the wellbeing of children through ethical and religious disciplines. He added that the UAE strongly believed in religious diversity and affirmed its commitment to respecting human rights and promoting peace and valuing the other.

In his video message, the President of Arigatou International, and Convenor of the GNRC, Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, urged all people of good will, faith leaders, and faith communities to ensure all children return back to school even as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic that has stretched the mental, social, and economic might of human beings. He called for urgent action by leaders worldwide to prioritize children’s mental health, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He noted that all children have a right to identity, education, health, protection and participation including those from underprivileged communities.

Attending the meeting virtually was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, who encouraged members to invest in children from their earliest years and ensuring that we build a just, inclusive and safe society for them. She added that in order to build back better we ought to reach to all children especially those in vulnerable communities and integrate services for children, such as education and health.

In his speech the member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Dr. Benyam Mezmur, pointed to some of the problems in the developing world that have restricted children’s access to education including access to basic needs, lack of peace, and lack of quality healthcare and education. He implored to humanity to reach furthest to the underprivileged and vulnerable in the communities especially in the developing countries.

During the ceremony, 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 sought to analyze the challenges children and young people undergo, especially during the pandemic. 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.

The World Day event culminated in the Wear My Shoes campaign award that aimed at highlighting grassroots efforts and actions to mitigate the global learning crisis. GNRC members in Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico, Myanmar and Serbia were awarded for their creative submissions.

The post GNRC Members Join the World in Celebrating the World Day of Prayer and Action in Dubai appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.

The post GNRC Members Join the World in Celebrating the World Day of Prayer and Action in Dubai appeared first on Arigatou International.