Open house day on children’s rights

Community based organisations on Saba involved in the protection of children’s rights announced an open house day for parents and children this Friday, November 29, at the Voogdijraad building, on Paris Hill Road in The Bottom. Community leaders, parents, legal guardians, youth, children and involved family members welcome this opportunity to enhance awareness about available resources to stimulate positive family plans. The event is spearheaded by Anastasia Simmons from the court guardianship office with the support of the Body, Mind and Spirit (BMS) Foundation and the Youth and Family Centre. It places an emphasis on the rights of the child.

The morning is open for perusal of resources and asking private questions or bringing up any concerns. In the afternoon the BMS programmes coordinator will share cartoons, short movies and lead a presentation on identifying and combating various forms of bullying amongst children. The Youth and Family Centre will present on the importance of structure in the family. Simmons will later present on recent legal changes of direct impact on the status and protection of the child. Of all the presentations the most anticipated will be that of the Saba delegation recently returned from the Dutch Caribbean Youth festivities in Curaçao. Five children and their chaperone Ludwina Lucas Charles were sponsored by local organisations to participate in the 20th anniversary festivities of the Youth Fund of the Netherlands Antilles.

Friday’s open house event is designed to create a deeper understanding on the rights of the child. Related issues are to be featured in the awareness-raising local television station programme prepared by BMS foundation to mark Human Rights Day on December 10. The Voice of Our Children Foundation (VOOC) will officially launch its radio and television advertisement which outlines what rights each and every child has. The Voice of Our Children Foundation (VOOC) will officially launch its radio and television advertisement which outlines what rights each and every child has. The foundation’s television news broadcast is aired on Cable TV  on television station on Saba on channel 25.