A Day Spent With Children

On a clear Sunday morning, I walked through the gate of a primary school, Pi Thnou Primary School, in Battambang. The yellow buildings with spots of washed-out paint surrounding a sizable yard sent pangs of nostalgia with every step I took. But most of all, it was the smiling faces of children and young teens that sent me back to the time when I was their age—relishing in my innocence without a care in the world.

As the students rushed towards me, asking for autographs and pictures, it tugged at my heart string. Their eyes glimmered of child-like wonder that is rarely seen in my everyday life as a working adult.

One of the most remarkable things about children is truly their innocence. The world hasn’t worn them down. They are full of hopes and dreams, eager to grow up and take their place in this world. And we, as adults, we owe it to them to protect them—to shield their innocence for as long as possible as they enjoy their childhood. 

And that was what the event that took me to the primary school was all about. I had the pleasure of being invited to the celebration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – 30^th Anniversary”, a joint campaign by the European Union, alongside USAID, UNICEF and Save the Children, and the Child Rights Now Network, renewing the launch of the #everyright4everychild.

This year is the 30^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). True to its name, children deserve their own rights and protection. They are the waves following hard on our heels, and they will take over once our waves crash along the shore. They are the future.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Cambodia said, “Thirty years ago, nations around the world made an unprecedented promise to the children of the world. They promised a world where children have the same rights as adults - to health, nutrition, education, clean water and sanitation, protection, and others. A world where children’ voices matter and where children are treated with dignity. It is important that everyone, especially children, know about these rights.”

“We are glad to celebrate 30 years of the ​Convention on the Rights of the Child with all of you in Battambang. The CRC strives to ensure better implementation of children's rights worldwide. It has inspired the EU and its member states to change laws, policies and practices aimed at the protection and promotion of children’s rights. The CRC commits government to provide every child with an adequate standard of living to ensure physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, including access to education. Development partners are glad to collaborate with RGC to archive these goals. So let’s look ahead to what we must do to continue translating child rights into results. Let’s support them. Let’s take action with them.” said Franck Viault.

The event showed that some of them certainly know their rights. Eleven-year-old Torm Rattanakvong and 14-year-old Chann Phinuk bravely took the microphone during the event and talked about their lives, their dreams and the rights that are propelling them to making those a reality. This event only served as a reminder as well as raising awareness to more children about their potential and the CRC that was designed to shelter them. 

Kites were featured in the event with one big white kite signed by the stakeholders taking center stage. It’s a representation of hope—hope that we have instilled upon children. 

But the event wasn’t all about speeches and talks. Tiny Toones was brought out as entertainment for the participants, earning oohs and ahhs from the audience with their impressive dance moves. Right after, a magician took the stage and dazzled everyone, including me, with his magic. Even as an adult, the magic tricks that he had up his sleeves still amazed me. 

It was a remarkable day, and it was a pleasure for me to be a part of it. Even though I had to get up rather a few hours too early on a Sunday morning, it was all worth it to see the children’s smiles. They reminded me to bring out some of my inner innocence. The event also reminded me of the work that we have done and are doing to ensure that children can stay as children for as long as possible, and that is thanks largely to the work that the organizations involved, such European Union, alongside USAID, UNICEF and Save the Children, and the Child Rights Now Network are doing.