Day of the African Child:Building Climate Resilient Schools

As part of continuity activity under the Community Initiative Award , Haki Nawiri Afrika in collaboration with Safina Empowerment Organisation co-organised the Day of the African Child on 15th June 2024.The Day of the African child is celebrated every 16th of June .It commemorates the Soweto Uprising in South Africa in 1976 , where thousands of South African students protested the apartheid regime's use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in Bantu schools .This uprising led to the death of many students .The Day of the African Child has to date evolved into an opportunity for celebrating the realisation of the rights of the African child as aligned to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child(ACRWC).The Day is also celebrated to raise awareness on challenges facing the African child .There is an theme for every year. The 2024 theme for the Day of the African Child is "Education for All Children in Africa : The Time is Now".

Haki Nawiri Afrika and Safina Empowerment Organisation focused on climate change and agroecology education as part of discussion on issues African children are grappling with.

.The activity was hosted by General Mulinge Primary School in collaboration with Kaani Smallscale Farmers Association.Invited partners to the event also included Kariobangi Social Justice Centre.

During the event , in discussing food inequality , the children did drawings on how hungry people look like.The images were of sadness and confusion.This reinforced the fact that lack of food impacts on the right to education.The children were further taken through the basics of agroecology including the importance of planting trees as well as fruit trees as sources of nutrition for children as well as relevance of healthy and sustainable diets.The day also involved music and dancing.In Africa dancing is part of the DNA.

The children went for a farm visit at Bliss Farm , where they asked questions about various crops and livestock and were able to understand the various principles of agroecology including recycling , synergy, input reduction,soil health, animal health, biodiversity, social wellness and diets as well as co-creation of knowledge, .The most memorable moment was taking a photo at the World Pulse Corner which was initiated by World Pulse members Kenya Chapter and World Pulse President -Jensine. This is a space for drawing inspiration , like a tree , we need to soar , despite the existing struggles.The pupils also got to understand the relevance of World Pulse Corner in Kaani, Machakos.