These holidays... give a gift of hope
With a real project gift from Plan you are giving hope to the children and families whose lives are being threatened in communities throughout East Africa.
Find out moreParticipation
Children have a right to participate.
In fact, participation is one of the guiding principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The principle affirms that children are fully-fledged persons who have the right to express their views in all matters affecting them. It requires that those views be heard and given due weight in accordance with the child's age and maturity. It recognises the potential of children to enrich decision-making processes, to share perspectives and to participate as citizens and actors of change.Plan has whole-heartedly incorporated children’s participation into its child centred community development approach. Children play an active role in Plan’s projects. They are encouraged to participate in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects.The fact that Plan respects children's views does not mean that children's opinions are automatically endorsed. A process of dialogue and exchange is encouraged with children where they assume increasing responsibilities and become active, tolerant and democratic.
The respect for children’s participation has changed the relationship between adults and children in Plan projects. Plan staff and volunteers interacting with children are no longer seen as mere providers, protectors or advocates for children, but also as negotiators and facilitators with children. Adults are expected to create spaces and promote processes designed to enable and empower children to express views, to be consulted and to influence decisions.
Children’s participation impacts across all the projects that Plan does. It has also led Plan to initiate some new projects that help children to express themselves through youth clubs and youth media groups.
Children Changing Their World » Understanding and Evaluating Child Participation.