On the 20th of November 2009 GNRC Africa in conjunction with the Islamic Foundation in Isiolo and Garbatullah and the Somali Association of Youth Salvation (SAYS) in Hargeisa came together to prayer, commemorate and celebrate the world Day of Prayers and Action for Children.
The 20th of November- day of prayer and action for children also the UN international children's day had been adopted by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) during its third Forum held in Hiroshima 24-26th May 2008. The Forum together with relevant governments, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and other stakeholders called on all people of the world's religious and spiritual traditions, to take action with and for children on this day each year.
In Isiolo GNRC members, peace activities and civil society members visited the world famous Pepo la Tumaini Jagwani – a center which runs an HIV/AIDS Community Rehabilitation Program and the Al-Falah children home run by the Islamic Foundation. Pepo la Tumaini Jagwani is a community based organization that had been started by two teachers who had been trained as HIV/AIDS counselors. It aims to reduce stigmatization and discrimination while lobbying for the rights of people- especially children, living with HIV/AIDS. The Al Falah children’s home on the other hand houses around 150 orphans where they are provided with food, boarding, clothing schooling, medical care and religious education.
From as early as 7am students, media practitioners, GNRC members and peace club members from Saint Paul’s school, Isiolo boys secondary school, Isiolo girls secondary school, Al-Falah primary school, Al-Falah nursery school and children from the Pepo la Tumaini Jagwani center gathered at the Al-Falah children’s home for special prayers and a peace march to celebrate and commemorate the day of prayer and action for children. After the peace march the participants were entertained with song dance and poems and heard brief submissions on the plight of children in Kenya and around the world. Mr. Said Abdalla a GNRC member from Nairobi read out a special message from the global convener of GNRC reverend Keishi Miyamoto.
The statement envisioned the 20th November as a day “when people around the Earth — people from every religion, from every culture, from every kind of society — will join together in prayer and action to build a world that is not only “fit” for every child, but a world that is a true blessing to every child”. Reverend Miyamoto also prayed that on this day “every child could joyously celebrate his or her own infinite spiritual potential — the potential to play, laugh, love, meditate and pray the potential to change the world”.
The Isiolo district children’s officer Mr. Max Nakapel called for renewed efforts in child protection so as to reduce child mortality rates, the menace of HIV /AIDS, violence against children and the problem of street children. The occasion in Isiolo was also graced with the presence of the chairman of the Isiolo central peace committee Mr. Gufu Gollo and reverend Steven Kalungu the secretary of the Isiolo Interfaith Committee. Special prayers were also conducted by reverend Steven Kalungu and children from the Al-Falah children’s home. Free GNRC rechargeable radios were distribute to the peace clubs, families and some of the participants who were to listen to the on going ethics education radio program launched the GNRC Africa. The Local Isiolo mosques and churches were also encouraged to discuss children in their sermons and services of the day. Similar activities were also undertaken in Garbatullah and in Hargeisa (Somaliland)
The day of prayers and action for children had come at an opportune and poignant time in Isiolo as inter-clan conflict has continued to cause untold suffering to communities. Throughout October and November the Borana the Turkana and other communities had clashed in Isiolo over resources leaving more than 10 people dead. Throughout Kenya the committee of experts had just released the harmonized draft constitution and the country was again seeing ethicized polarization on ground of those who were for and against the harmonized draft. We were reminded that it was not long since 1200 people lost their lives- so many of them children, 300 000 others were dislocated from familiar surroundings into camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the disputed elections of December 2007. Thus the day endeavored to bring together a shared anguish at the suffering of children, offer collective hope for the dignity and integrity of Children and make a new commitment to action on behalf of Children through Prayer.
Continue reading Day of Prayer and Action for Children Marked with Prayers and a March for Peace in Isiolo
