Child Advocacy Day “Voices for Children” open air event

Yerevan, Armenia – On June 1st, 2016 Save the Children hosted Child Advocacy Day “Voices for Children” open air event at Lovers’ Park Yerevan. The goal of the event was to bring policy makers to children and listen from children what they want.

Mr. Artem Asatryan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ms. Hranush Hkobyan, RA Minister of Diaspora, Mr. Piotr Switalski, Ambassador, the head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Mr. Richard Mills, US Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Erikas Petrikas, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Armenia and Mr. Bernhard Matthias Kiesler, Ambassador the Federal Republic of Germany տօ Armenia addressed the children their wishes and commitments.

Child Advocacy Dayaimed to bring together representatives of the Armenian government, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as children and their parents and show their support for children’s rights by participating in workshops, visiting exhibit tents to learn about new services and programs, discussing children’s issues and rights. The initiative was the idea of our “Child Advisory Board” promoting child participation and children’s rights to be heard. Participants learnt children’s perspectives on policy issues - from health to education, from rights to protection. “Voices for Children” event was a good opportunity for everyone to become a better advocate for children’s rights in Armenia and worldwide.

After a brief formal opening ceremony, guests, including children, were invited to enjoy a range of educational activities, discussions, mini forums and performances by Cross of Armenian Unity NGO. Our volunteers helped guests to learn about children’s rights through a special “child to child” methodology.

The event was also feature an exhibition area to present new and ongoing initiatives of Save the Children and its partners. There were also mini launches of two new projects implemented by Save the Children (EU funded Social Innovations for Vocational Education and Employability of Young People with Disabilities (SIVEE for YPWD) project and Community Based Services for Children with Disabilities), several presentations, and interactive performances for the visitors.

Media Initiative Center, “Unison” NGO with its “Paros” Chamber Chor and “Miqayel Voskanya and fiends” band joined Save the Children and provided pleasant and unique atmosphere throughout the event. 

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Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children, working in over 120 countries. Since its establishment in Armenia in 1993, Save the Children has managed a range of relief and development programs in aid to the most vulnerable children and their families in the country. We have worked in more than 500 communities in Armenia to deliver more than 900 projects. Our current strategic priorities (2016-2018) aim at addressing issues related to child protection, child rights governance, inclusive education, and child poverty.