An innovative project launched by World Vision Lebanon's advocacy department will give 300 children direct input into shaping the organisation's advocacy strategy.

Dec. 19, 2006- The 'From a child's point of view: 300 children…300 voices' project kicked off with a series of consultations that began on 16 December and will continue through the week. Children from different age groups, religions and ethnic backgrounds from each Area Development Program (ADP) and the Palestinian programme were invited to talk with their peers in child-friendly forums. The forums gave children the chance to express their views and deliberate with one another in a fun environment.

'One of the pillars of our mandate as a child-focused organisation is to give children the opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that concern them and to engage them as active partners in our activities,' said country director Bruce Menser. 'Children know their situation and what needs to be improved and they always have amazing and creative ideas to contribute. It was great to see World Vision engaged in an active listening process.'
According to advocacy manager Patricio Cuevas, one of the issues that come up frequently during the discussions was violence against children, and especially in schools and on the streets. Children were also concerned about healthcare, he said.

'In the case of the Palestinian children, they highlighted their wish to have access to health care as they are deprived of access to the public health system because they are refugees without legal citizenship status in the country,' he said.

The results of this child consultation will be included in the advocacy, protection and peacebuilding assessment World Vision is conducting to determine, categorise and prioritise the key themes to engage in advocacy work. The foundation for these discussions is the convention of the child rights and how these rights should apply to children in Lebanon.

Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)