Ten Years of the AMWCY

N° 18-19 April-September 2004

17

Info Calao N° 18-19, April – September, 2004

Editorial

Ten years of the AMWCY!!!

The AMWCY (African Movement of Working Children and Youth) has just celebrated its 10 years of existence in July 2004.

“Children have a good place in our Movement”.

I have the pleasure to wish you a good anniversary celebration and to praise you for the work that is being done within the supportive structures and the AWCYs (Associations of Working Children and Youth) in the interest of WCYs (Working Children and Youth) during these ten years.

I would also like to encourage our partners who believe in what we are doing. In June 2004, a training on child trafficking was held in Ouagadougou. Ten towns in Burkina participated in the training. Who could have thought of such an organisation ten years ago? I remember during one of my early participations in Ouagadougou, the older WCYs said that I was too young and could do nothing, and that the opportunity should be given to older ones. Presently, children have a good place in our Movement and they also have responsibilities. That’s progress. A Head of State, once told us that we are suffering at the moment, but that tomorrow, our brothers will not.

Good luck, AMWCY!

Claude François Ouedraogo

AWCY, Ouagadougou

The AMWCY: it’s Me, it’s You, and it’s Him.

On behalf of all the WCYs of Rwanda, I wish all of the WCYs everywhere around the globe, a happy anniversary celebration.

We are very happy that these ten years “have passed” with Rwanda being a member of the AMWCY. It is an opportunity to congratulate ourselves for the activities already undertaken in the Movement and more over, it is an opportunity to blend our efforts in order to move ahead with our Movement. The AMWCY, it’s Me, it’s You and it’s Him. Once more, I wish you a happy anniversary celebration marking the tenth year of the AMWCY. Thanks and good luck to everyone.

Oumar Tony

AWCY, Rwanda

We have no room for errors

The tenth AMWCY anniversary celebration announcement gave me a great joy. Our, “my” child is ten years old. In fact, I was a witness in Bouaké on 21 July 1994 when the first steps were taken by a few children struggling for their wellbeing, to improve their living conditions and work on issues that affect their lives by promoting the 12 rights of the WCYs.

You and I have been branded as child manipulators, as “child inciters” against their elders…People are free to think and say whatever they want. That is their right. Our right (accompanying adults, facilitators and supportive structures) and your right (WCYs), is to work, work and continue working towards attaining your rights. If we, or you, happen to encounter difficulties, we need to redouble our courage and efforts.

We no longer have any room for errors at this stage, because ten years of struggle is a lot. The results attained by the AMWCY are “abundant”. I am proud of you. I wish you a happy anniversary celebration, you courageous and untiring combatants. At the historic rendez-vous, you will be given the floor. Yours friendly!

Koffi Gnangoran

Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

Contents

What do we do back home?

-  Benin

-  Burkina Faso

-  Cameroon

-  Central Africa Republic

-  Democratic Republic of Congo

-  Côte d’Ivoire

-  Gambia

-  Madagascar

-  Mali

-  Rwanda

-  Senegal

What’s new in the sub region and elsewhere?

Dakar, Bamako, Barcelona, India, South East Asia, Bolivia, Bangkok

Who publishes what?

Useful contacts / addresses

17

Info Calao N° 18-19, April – September, 2004

What do we do back home?

Benin

Training in radio communication techniques for AWCYs of Benin

From 28 June to 10 July 2004, a training in radio communication techniques for 35 participants of the Association of Working Children and Youth (AWCY) from 7 regions of Benin, with the assistance of Plan Benin and AWCY advisors, was held in Cotonou . The coordination was undertaken by Simon Meledge and Aimé Bada of Enda Tiers Monde Dakar. A journalist from Benin also helped to facilitate the training.

The objective of the training was to enable the participants to fully master communication techniques; know how to effectively present programmes and to speak well over the microphone; gather information on the activities that the WCYs will be undertaking in relationship with their activity plan, produce programmes that will promote the 12 rights of the WCYs; strengthen the links between the WCYs, the Benin authorities and the community radios; and to undertake a follow-up of the activities of the struggle against child trafficking.

When the facilitator quickly resolved the problem posed by the French language, the two modules that were planned on teaching and practical activities, made it possible for the young participants to familiarise themselves with the techniques of handling the tape recorder, animation, reporting, holding round table discussions, interviewing and how to analyse programmes in groups, etc.

A programme (interview on the life, the activities, the rights and perspectives of WCYs of Benin) was run on Radio Tokpa, as well as two other programmes. A round table discussion on the life of WCYs and child trafficking on the Gbetin Community Radio, ended the training.

Burkina Faso

Orodara: WCYs move into action

·  During the second quarter of 2004, the AWCY bought a baby foot (football game played by hands on a mounted table) in a bid to increase its income. The fee is 100 francs cfa per game. The Association’s treasurer is responsible in managing the baby foot. In May and June 2004, the baby foot brought in more than 35,000 f cfa.

·  In April 2004, 15 WCYs attending literacy courses (in Dioula), sponsored by the Poverty Reduction Programme in the Districts, faced a mid-term evaluation.

·  The Day of the African Child (16 June 2004) was celebrated with a football match between the WCYs and children from Enfants de la Maison André Dupont of Orodara. The WCY were defeated by 9 goals to nil.

·  In July 2004, about ten WCYs mobilised themselves to clean the front part of the offices of the Provincial Social Action in the town of Orodara.

Ouagadougou: WCY associations from 10 towns train themselves in fighting against child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour

From 14 to 19 June 2004, in the ”Stade du 4 août” in Ouagadougou, 40 AWCY members of Burkina from the towns of Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Orodara, Koupéla, Dori, Gaoua, Koudougou, Tougan, Kaya and Fada N’gourma, were trained to fight against child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour, through the assistance of UNICEF and the Government of Burkina Faso.

The main objective of the training was to enable the Associations of Working Children and Youths in Burkina Faso to know how to effectively fight against child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour. They learned the definition of child trafficking, the laws that forbid it, and gained knowledge of the information on the phenomenon and communication techniques, as well as the effective use of the procedure manual on the struggle against child trafficking.

Cameroon

Akonolinga: listening training for supervisors and animators

An NGO called EMICAM organised a listening training workshop for supervisors and animators from 9 to 13 August 2004 in the presence of WCYs and their animators, the teaching staff of the Educational and Technical Centre of Ezezang Medoun (or CETEM) and the officials of partner institutions.

With the assistance of two facilitators: Antonin Hounga (AWCY animator in Cotonou) and Malick Sy (Enda Dakar), the participants expressed their desire to attain the following objectives: understand participative listening; acquire tools necessary to accompany children living in difficult situations or in distress; master the listening phases, and to be able to produce a listening slip.

During the five-day training, the participants tested their knowledge and acquired new skills in the area of listening through practical exercises including the definition of the conceptual attitude of the person listening vis-à-vis the person being listened to. At that moment, the dimension “experienced” then emerges through practice, culminating in the different stages of listening.

The follow-up mechanisms were highlighted and the participants proceeded with the evaluation of the workshop.

On the last day of the workshop, Antonin Hounga made some clarification on the terms: WCY, grassroots groups, AWCY, National Coordination, the AMWCY and its composition and the role of supporting structures. He also made a presentation of the 12 rights and outlined the conditions for membership to the Movement.

The female coordinator of EMICAM, the departmental delegate of the Social Affairs Department of Nyong and Mfoumou and trainers, made speeches during the closing ceremony. All of the participants received attestations at the end of the workshop.

Central Africa Republic

Bangui: an Association that takes care of children living in difficult situations and in conflict with the law

An NGO called the Association of Volunteers for the Social and Economic Development of Central Africa (or AVODEC) in the Central Africa Republic has been working for three years now in taking care of children that are separated from their parents, and especially children that are in conflict with the law or living in difficult situations.

The activities of this Association are essentially centred on the improvement of prison conditions of youths below 14 years old (separated children and adult cells in police stations), delays in investigations and in hearings, and especially taking care to conform with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Moreover, ESCALE, a resource reception NGO which uses a community approach, gives the opportunity to social workers to consider the application of alternative measures to drop legal charges in agreement with the Prosecutor in order to come to a voluntary agreement with the child, his family and the victim.

This approach favours an amendment of the child and encourages adequate redress measures while respecting the fundamental Rights of the child.

Source: CRINMAIL:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Kinsasha

On 16 June 2004 (Day of the African Child) the football team of the working girls of the Association of Working Children and Youth of DR Congo, played against the team of the girls of the district of Nd’jili. The match ended with the score of 3 goals to zero in favour of the AWCY of DR Congo. At the end of the match, a cup was awarded to the winner by the network of NGOs called REEJER (thanks to the funds from Save the Children and UNICEF).

A kicker game and a table tennis set were also offered to the AWCY of DR Congo. On 7 July, a delegation from the association presented the cup to the burgomaster of the District of Lemba.

Côte d’Ivoire

Grand Bassam

·  Day of the African Child

The Day of the African Child was commemorated on 16 June by the AWCY of Côte d’Ivoire and the children of the Grand Bassam orphanage.

Several activities including a tale contest and a theatre play performed by the children of the Grand Bassam orphanage, were held to celebrate the day under the same theme: the return of peace to Côte d’Ivoire. The AWCY paid a visit to the training and socio-vocational rehabilitation centres as well as to imprisoned minors. Cultural activities were also staged by the children.

The AWCY also received assistance from the GTZ (German Cooperation), Save the Children Sweden, the Ministry of Family, Women and Children Affairs, the Coordination of anti-trafficking NGOs, as well as from the authorities of the town of Grand Bassam for the commemoration of that day. All of the parties present spoke or acted out against the ongoing situation in Côte d’Ivoire and whose consequences include the deterioration of the living conditions of children who are already living in difficult situations.

·  “Education and IGAs”: Restitution of the Bamako Workshop

A restitution of the apprenticeship module on Income Generating Activities (IGAs) that took place in the educational centres in Bamako between 28 June and 8 July 2004, was held on 19 August 2004 at the Carrefour Jeunesse in Grand Bassam.

Mr Koné Gbéan, animator from the Commauté Abel of Bassam and delegate to the Bamako workshop, reproduced the essential part of that workshop to the participants, under the patronage of Save the Children Sweden and presided over by the Ministry of National Education and in the presence of BICE Abidjan and the female coordinator of GTZ, literacy supervisors of educational centres of the town, presidents of Neighbourhood Development Associations, AWCY sections of Aboisso, Abidjan and Grand Bassam, as well as the officials of supporting structures.

Bouaké

·  The AWCYB is back to work

After a year and a half of inactivity (due to the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire), the Association of Working Children and Youth of Bouaké (AWCYB), has resumed its activities since the beginning of this year. With the assistance of the NGOs Collective and Associations in Bouaké, some contacts have been made with the politico-military authorities in order to obtain an authorisation to start the activities again. Following the reopening of EASEMO (the supporting structure of the Association), the pilot committee resumed contacts with the grassroots groups. The Association presently includes six grassroots groups (Bromakoté, Zone, Centre Social, Dar-es-Salam, Koko and Oliéno). With the assistance of EASEMO, it undertakes literacy activities and sensitisation on child labour and primary healthcare.

·  16 June 2004 ceremony

The ceremony was organised within the precincts of Save the Children Sweden in Bouaké. Mr. Koné Nantégué of EASEMO, Mr. Desiré Koukoui of BICE Abidjan and Mr.Martin Kouassi, president of the AWCYB, facilitated a discussion on the theme: “the African child and the family”. They also seized the opportunity to inform the public about the WCYs, the socio-political crisis, the anti-child trafficking project and the early migration of children, the activities of the AWCYB and the AMWCY, etc.

In the coming months, the AWCYB plans to organise literacy courses with all of the grassroots groups, sensitisation and animation on children’s rights and child labour, visits to exchange experience in other towns of Côte d’Ivoire, provide membership cards of the Association, set up financial contributions, participate in national activities and finally, undertake the official set up of an executive board.