LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Change makers meet corporate leaders

Kathmandu, May 22 (RSS) : The change makers, representing children from the seven countries in South Asia, met with corporate leaders from the region on the first day of the South Asian consultation of corporate leaders held here Sunday .

The theme of the meeting "corporate social responsibility for children" brought out the key issues and concerns of the children and generated much lively interaction.

We want a world where there is no discrimination between boys and girls, between the able and the disabled, between the rich and poor. We want a healthy, safe and clean environment suitable for all. And we want a decent education and opportunities for play, instead of having to work" was the vision for the future, articulated by the group of children to the South Asian corporate leaders.

The children spoke of their right to quality education , their right to be heard, their right to play and be cared for and their right to live in a world free of war and conflict.

The corporate leaders enthusiastically affirmed their support for children, promising to do everything they can towards the realization of this vision.

Mrs. Nailing Gangadharan of Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, Hyderabad, stressed the need for specific plans of action and invited the change makers to work closely with the private sector to develop and implement such plans.

Mr. Prabhaker Rana, chairman of Nepal’s Soaltee Group, highlighted the need for different sectors of society to play their respective roles and promised that the corporate leaders would take their share of the responsibility.

The corporate leaders applauded the children for the strength of their words and the passion with which they articulated the issues.

The meeting hosted by UNICEF’s Regional Office for South Asian is part of consultations with government and corporate cadres and children from the seven SAARC countries on investing in children.

The aim of the consultation is to achieve consensus on the one investment opportunity with assured returns - investing in children from the very early stage of life.

Meanwhile, six young journalists age ll to l6 from Bangladesh, India and Nepal are working at the change markers for South Asia workshop and the children’s meeting with leaders of corporate and business houses from the South Asia region which began here yesterday.

They will also be covering the change makers meeting with the government ministers and delegations to be held May 22 and 23.

Fifteen year-old Sushila KC and Sanjog Thakuri,14, are representing Hatemalo Children’s Club. Nepal Hatemalso Sanchar was established as an NGO in 1994 by a concerned group of media journalists, writers, and children involved in the promotion of the rights of the child through mass media. Hatemalo airs a radio programme every week throught Radio Nepal and also published a colourful children’s magazine, Sunkesra.

"We will write about this event in the Sunkesra magazine and will also broadcast it in our radio programme so that all the children in the country will get to know what all is happening for them, says Sushila.

Anil Kumar "a street child and a journalist from Bal Mazdoor Ki Awaz, India seems to be more sensitized by the child right issues than any of the other journalists. " Now we know what children’s unity can do for us" he says with a smile. " We are going to tell children back in Delhi what children power is all about, that the children have told the leaders and what promises that the leaders have made to us so in future if they don’t do what they have said we can together raise our voice." His friend Raju Kumar, 12 agrees with his and nods.

Bal Mazdoor Ki Awaz is one part of an alternative media initiative run by children that is supported by Butterflies Programme of Street and Working Children in Delhi, India. Bal Mazdoor Ki Awaz is the name of a wall newspaper that has been produced by street children since 1996.

Similarly, MD. Sharfull Aiam and Izmet Nashra Khan, both 16 years old, from Bangladesh representing Ekushey Television (ETV) - meaning television for 21st century are shooting the entire event with their crew for the 25 minutes children programme that TV airs every Friday evening. Nepal is a very beautiful country and I am very happy to be here, says a very composed Izmet with a professional touch in her voice. " We have had a lot of experience out here and it will be another great experience sharing it with children back home" says Izmet.

No doubt the 17 participants are determined to make the voices of the children they represent heard and are confident. They will be able to initiate changes in favour of children all over South Asia. But the young journalists are equally determined to convey the message of the change makers to millions of children back in their country and are confident that they too will make a difference.

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