A trip into my head ;-)
Thunder Cat
Wow! What am i doing here?! Even better question, how did i get here? I mean, who actually let little 'ole me in here??? No, not into Ghana, silly, despite my Ghanaian heritage i paid the 80$ visa for that. I mean into this meeting of "key community stake-holders" strategizing on how to initiate a holistic sectorial response to the challenges of child protection in Ghana. No doubt about it, I have a huge interest, one might even call it a strong passion, for the topic under discussion, child protection.... those who know me know that at every available opportunity (sometimes even the inopportune ones) i actively advocate for the rights of a child; especially his/her right to be heard.
Hmmm.... I guess thats how i slipped through the door into this air-conditioned room in the luxurious Labadi beach hotel along the aforementioned beach road. Thats how come I find myself with an invitation from the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to take part in this laudable initiative. Well, i will just sit here quietly and listen. Truth be told I am slightly intimidated by the bigwigs sitting at this here table. So i will just sit here quietly and listen. Besides, I haven't been in Ghana for 8 long years and even though it didn't take long at all for me to get into the swing of things and to get my Ghanaian accent back in full effect, my mother tells me that one doesn't have to listen too close to hear the traces of Canada in my voice. So I, the self-appointed paladin of the voiceless will keep quiet. Yes, I will keep quite and listen.
Listen to my elders share their experiences, knowledge and wisdom. Listen as they devise detailed, extensive, sustainable strategies to deal with the MANIFOLD challenges that confront child protection efforts in Ghana. Given the cross-cutting nature of this issue, it is no wonder the diversity of the folks and sectors represented here today. On the "high table" we have of course the big money people with the big government people. UNICEF and the Deputy Minister for MOWAC. Not to be left out are the other big International Shakers in child welfare and protection; ILO, IOM, UNFPA and UNESCO. Then we have the civil society groups, the other . Governmental organizations and the highly impassioned NGO's; First there is the dedicated but severly underfunded Department of Social Welfare, The Attorney Generals Office, The Domestic Violence and Victim Support unit , Ministry of health, Ministry of Education, Police services, Birth Registrations, Immigration, National Children's Commission, NGO Coalition on the Rights of a child, The Ghana AIDS Commisssion.... many other like minded organizations ....and lil ole me!
Don't get me wrong, I am not in this room because i don't have anything to contribute and I like to sit and watch grown ups discuss children's issues. Far from it. My research interests aside, i am also spearheading a newly formed not-for-profit organization, Voices of the Voiceless, that seeks amongst other things to advocate the inclusion of the Voices of Children in discussions of this very nature. Given this, i don't know how long i can be true to my socializition and act like the "respectful" (a term used very loosely here), friendly, QUIET child that my mother tried so very very hard to raise me to be.. though truth be told i suspect she was secretly pleased when i spoke up growing up, heck sometimes she even facilitated it!.. but i digress.. I really dont know how long i can sit at this table without contributing to this discussion. Whoa, hold on a minute, Now the conversation has switched to an animated discussion on "the interests of the child".
What are the interests of the children? Heck back track even, Why are we here in the first place? What is Child Protection? What issues should be broupgh under this expansive umbrella, bearing in mind that we are here to adopt a more holistic and cohesive approach to this fragmented issue..
I clear my throat and mentally release my conscious hold on my tongue...."Ummm, Excuse me", I say in my best Ghanaian accent. "If i may be so bold as to suggest something. If I may be allowed to humbly add my two cents, I think that we stand to do ourselves, our institutions and most importantly our children a huge disservice by sitting in this room, far removed from the child we seek to protect, deciding like we experience their day-to day realities in todays world, what is really in their best interests. We barely even have any "data" to work with!!!!!. I am afraid that by virtue of the fact that there is NO Child at this table we are reinforcing the evil that we all rightly condemn, even going so far as to unconsciously( i hope) restrict them from exercising their rights enshrined in the International Convention on the Rights of a Child. Specifically Article 12 which states "Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child" and Article 13 "The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice". We must allow them to exercise these rights especially at this forum as their emic perspective will provide us with a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the issues they face.
If i may be even bolder to suggest further, the advantages of doing this far outweighs the disadvantages. It is no secret that Ghana was proudly the first country to ratify this convention which shows her unabashed support and concern for children. Please. Let us not work against ourselves by making policy decisions without giving them a seat at the table. Granted we are all from organizations that sincerely have "the best interests of the child" at heart and work tirelessly on a daily basis to ensure that our children are provided with the best possible nurturing environment for their development into responsible citizens. If i may humbly suggest, it is this core value we all believe in and work towards that should prompt us to consider their inclusion and indeed their right to be here and add their voices to this conversation; not by proxy but by self.. This, my elders, is my humble two cents... "
After i finish my little impassioned yet controlled and respectful "outburst" i retreat back into my head and am confronted with the question once again. What exactly am i doing here? I remember now! I am here to advocate that my seat be given to the child.
"...Prayer can be like incense, rising ever higher and higher, or it can be like a low earth-mist clinging to the ground, never once soaring. The Eye that sees all, the Ear that hears all, knows every cry. But the prayer of real faith is the prayer of joy, that sees and knows the heart of Love it rises to greet, and is sure of a glad response." - God Calling.
Wow! What am i doing here?! Even better question, how did i get here? I mean, who actually let little 'ole me in here??? No, not into Ghana, silly, despite my Ghanaian heritage i paid the 80$ visa for that. I mean into this meeting of "key community stake-holders" strategizing on how to initiate a holistic sectorial response to the challenges of child protection in Ghana. No doubt about it, I have a huge interest, one might even call it a strong passion, for the topic under discussion, child protection.... those who know me know that at every available opportunity (sometimes even the inopportune ones) i actively advocate for the rights of a child; especially his/her right to be heard.
Hmmm.... I guess thats how i slipped through the door into this air-conditioned room in the luxurious Labadi beach hotel along the aforementioned beach road. Thats how come I find myself with an invitation from the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to take part in this laudable initiative. Well, i will just sit here quietly and listen. Truth be told I am slightly intimidated by the bigwigs sitting at this here table. So i will just sit here quietly and listen. Besides, I haven't been in Ghana for 8 long years and even though it didn't take long at all for me to get into the swing of things and to get my Ghanaian accent back in full effect, my mother tells me that one doesn't have to listen too close to hear the traces of Canada in my voice. So I, the self-appointed paladin of the voiceless will keep quiet. Yes, I will keep quite and listen.
Listen to my elders share their experiences, knowledge and wisdom. Listen as they devise detailed, extensive, sustainable strategies to deal with the MANIFOLD challenges that confront child protection efforts in Ghana. Given the cross-cutting nature of this issue, it is no wonder the diversity of the folks and sectors represented here today. On the "high table" we have of course the big money people with the big government people. UNICEF and the Deputy Minister for MOWAC. Not to be left out are the other big International Shakers in child welfare and protection; ILO, IOM, UNFPA and UNESCO. Then we have the civil society groups, the other . Governmental organizations and the highly impassioned NGO's; First there is the dedicated but severly underfunded Department of Social Welfare, The Attorney Generals Office, The Domestic Violence and Victim Support unit , Ministry of health, Ministry of Education, Police services, Birth Registrations, Immigration, National Children's Commission, NGO Coalition on the Rights of a child, The Ghana AIDS Commisssion.... many other like minded organizations ....and lil ole me!
Don't get me wrong, I am not in this room because i don't have anything to contribute and I like to sit and watch grown ups discuss children's issues. Far from it. My research interests aside, i am also spearheading a newly formed not-for-profit organization, Voices of the Voiceless, that seeks amongst other things to advocate the inclusion of the Voices of Children in discussions of this very nature. Given this, i don't know how long i can be true to my socializition and act like the "respectful" (a term used very loosely here), friendly, QUIET child that my mother tried so very very hard to raise me to be.. though truth be told i suspect she was secretly pleased when i spoke up growing up, heck sometimes she even facilitated it!.. but i digress.. I really dont know how long i can sit at this table without contributing to this discussion. Whoa, hold on a minute, Now the conversation has switched to an animated discussion on "the interests of the child".
What are the interests of the children? Heck back track even, Why are we here in the first place? What is Child Protection? What issues should be broupgh under this expansive umbrella, bearing in mind that we are here to adopt a more holistic and cohesive approach to this fragmented issue..
I clear my throat and mentally release my conscious hold on my tongue...."Ummm, Excuse me", I say in my best Ghanaian accent. "If i may be so bold as to suggest something. If I may be allowed to humbly add my two cents, I think that we stand to do ourselves, our institutions and most importantly our children a huge disservice by sitting in this room, far removed from the child we seek to protect, deciding like we experience their day-to day realities in todays world, what is really in their best interests. We barely even have any "data" to work with!!!!!. I am afraid that by virtue of the fact that there is NO Child at this table we are reinforcing the evil that we all rightly condemn, even going so far as to unconsciously( i hope) restrict them from exercising their rights enshrined in the International Convention on the Rights of a Child. Specifically Article 12 which states "Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child" and Article 13 "The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice". We must allow them to exercise these rights especially at this forum as their emic perspective will provide us with a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the issues they face.
If i may be even bolder to suggest further, the advantages of doing this far outweighs the disadvantages. It is no secret that Ghana was proudly the first country to ratify this convention which shows her unabashed support and concern for children. Please. Let us not work against ourselves by making policy decisions without giving them a seat at the table. Granted we are all from organizations that sincerely have "the best interests of the child" at heart and work tirelessly on a daily basis to ensure that our children are provided with the best possible nurturing environment for their development into responsible citizens. If i may humbly suggest, it is this core value we all believe in and work towards that should prompt us to consider their inclusion and indeed their right to be here and add their voices to this conversation; not by proxy but by self.. This, my elders, is my humble two cents... "
After i finish my little impassioned yet controlled and respectful "outburst" i retreat back into my head and am confronted with the question once again. What exactly am i doing here? I remember now! I am here to advocate that my seat be given to the child.
"...Prayer can be like incense, rising ever higher and higher, or it can be like a low earth-mist clinging to the ground, never once soaring. The Eye that sees all, the Ear that hears all, knows every cry. But the prayer of real faith is the prayer of joy, that sees and knows the heart of Love it rises to greet, and is sure of a glad response." - God Calling.