In honor of Universal Children’s Day on November 20th, LEAP’s Community Center in Çorum hosted an event that brought together children from Iraqi, Syrian, Iranian, and Turkish backgrounds. The theme, “Children’s Rights,” provided a unique opportunity for young participants to learn about their rights in an engaging and interactive environment.
Learning Through Play: A Creative Approach to Children’s Rights
At the center of the event was a series of games designed to teach children about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Using colorful cards printed with key rights from the CRC, children participated in a card-matching game. This interactive format made the often complex legal language of the CRC accessible and understandable for the young audience.
According to the facilitator, the card-matching activity helped reinforce critical principles such as the right to education, protection, and participation. She said, “Children learn best when they are engaged and active. These games ensured that the knowledge stays with them beyond the classroom.”
A Wall of Rights
After the games, each child was encouraged to write down a right they learned about on a piece of paper. These handwritten notes were then pinned to a dedicated “Children’s Rights Wall.” This visual display became a powerful symbol of the day’s teachings, allowing children to reflect on their newfound knowledge and feel a sense of ownership over their rights.
Building the Future
Educating children about their rights is not only an ethical imperative but also a practical tool for empowerment. When children understand their rights, they are better equipped to advocate for themselves and others, fostering resilience and confidence.
This Universal Children’s Day, the message was clear: every child has the right to be heard, protected, and educated. Because the future begins with empowering the youngest among us.
This article is prepared in the scope of the “Community-based Local Initiatives Project (CLIP 2)”, co-funded by the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its content covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the commissioning parties.