Press Release
18 Nov 2010
“Kids need so many things, but the most important thing they need is love and hope”. Shauna
A new book, Ding Dong, Right or Wrong? Children’s Rights, Needs and Visions for the Future was launched today (18 November) by Jillian van Turnhout, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance. The book, published by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership, is a collection of original thoughts, imaginative stories and colourful illustrations by children exploring their rights, needs and visions for the future. One hundred and twenty five children from Sligo, Bundoran, Derry and Enniskillen worked together to create this unique publication. Thirty five of these children travelled to the national launch in Dublin today and presented Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, TD with a copy of their book.
The launch coincides with the 21st anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which takes place on Saturday 20 November 2010.
In the book, the children explore a range of themes, including the right to a home; the right to leisure; recreation and cultural activities; and the right to information. Their words and drawings are powerful. For example, Sarah wrote “Every child should have a home. A home is where your family lives and is where you are always welcome and important”. Leah and Hannah wrote “Children need health care. Lots of us break our bones, we slip, we jump, we fall over, we trip, we flip and crash.”
Speaking at the launch Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, TD, said “Ding Dong, Right or Wrong? Children’s Rights Needs and Visions for the Future is a challenging, stimulating and enjoyable book. It shows us in many ways just how successful the UN Convention, signed 21 years ago this month, has been. This book is about children themselves exploring in a creative way the subject of their own rights and those of their fellow young citizens across the globe. I congratulate all those involved with the project particularly the Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership for bringing it to fruition.”
Jillian van Turnhout, Chief Executive, Children’s Rights Alliance said “We are very proud to have Kids’ Own as one of our member organisations. This book provides a wonderful window into the world of children and how they understand their rights. It is filled with hope and love but also tinged with fear and sadness. It is a stark reminder to us all that we have a duty to uphold children’s rights and to ensure that children have all the tools they need to grow up safe, happy, educated and healthy.”
Orla Kenny, Creative Director, Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership said “We choose ‘children’s rights’ as the theme for this book, as not only has it relevance to the lives of the children taking part in the project but it allows them to connect, with children across the globe through their shared rights. Kids’ Own believe in the power of book-making to build strong readers, writers and thinkers to develop the capacity within children to enable them to express themselves, articulate and interpret the world around them. Today marks a huge achievement for the 125 children who worked together from both sides of the border. It is a day to celebrate.”
**Notes to Editor: Please find attached
*************ENDS***************
For future information please contact:
Róisín Fitzgerald, Communications Officer 01 6629400 / 087 7702845 or communications@childrensrights.ie
Notes to Editor:
Ding Dong, Right or Wrong? Children’s Rights, Needs and Visions for the Future is on sale now at www.kidsown.ie Cost €10. All profits go to Kids Own projects.
Saturday 20 November marks the 21st anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC is an internationally binding agreement which incorporates the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of all children under 18 years. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989; and was ratified by Ireland in 1992. Almost all countries have ratified the UNCRC, with the exception of the United States of America and Somalia.
About Kids’ Own
Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership was established in 1997. Kids’ Own is a non-profit children’s arts organisation and publishing house. As the only professional publisher in Ireland of books made by children, Kids’ Own believes in the power of book-making and publishing to build strong readers, strong writers and strong thinkers and to develop the capacity within children to enable them to express themselves, articulate and interpret the world around them. Kids’ Own books are made through a process of collaboration between children and professional artists and writers. Children are encouraged to draw on their real life experiences as a starting point for telling stories and making art work.
About the book
The making of the book was built around a tour of the Kids’ Own Travelling Library. The Travelling Library is a new resource developed by Kids’ Own for temporary installation in libraries, schools, festivals and other locations where it can be easily accessed by children and young people. It aims to provide a space where children and young people can engage with books made by their peers and to take part in their own response activity or participate in book-making workshops, facilitated by Kids’ Own.
The project was a cross-border initiative which worked with children in libraries north and south of the border and to connect them through a book-making process. The children designed the page layouts of the book themselves, with the help of Kids’ Own. The book is 56 pages long. The participating schools were: Scoil Ursula and Gaelscoil Chnoc Na Re in Sligo and the Enniskillen Integrated Primary School. Children also participated in Sligo Library, Derry Library, Bundoran Library and Enniskillen Library. The project was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (Reconciliation Fund); other funding partners were Sligo County Library Service and Donegal County Library Service. The children attending the launch will be from Scoil Ursula and Gaelscoil Chnoc Na Re, both in Sligo.
Extracts from the book
“This is a pyramid of what children need. We need the right to speak out, the right to have friends, we need fresh air, healthy food, tvs (to watch documentaries), exercise, transport, and at the top is love and water.” Heather
“Kids need so many things, but the most important thing they need is love and hope”. Shauna
“We think being different is good. Sometimes people dress a different way because of their culture.” Alex T, Alex B and Kirsty H
“Children need to be happy, to be free from worrying about problems or bring frightened or being bullied.” Hannah
“Treat the world like gold, because we need to world to live on.” James
“Children have the right to have good clothes. Some children are not as privileged as other children to have nice clothes. It would be good if all children could get new clothes now and again.” Kerri and Charley