Universal Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November every year to promote children’s welfare and highlight their rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.

In 1989 the Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified and since then has been adopted by the majority of UN member states.  The Rights of the Child changed the way children are viewed and treated – providing them with a distinct set of rights, describing what a child needs to survive, grow and live up to their potential in the world. They apply to every child, no matter where they come from. The unprecedented acceptance of the Convention shows a global commitment to advancing children’s rights.

Ecologia celebrates its own Anniversary on 20 November each year, to honour our commitment to advance the rights of all children. In this our 20^th Anniversary year, we are celebrating Universal Children’s Day with a special dinner event in the Findhorn Community.

The one thing all children have in common is their rights. Every child has the right to survive and thrive, to be educated, to be free from violence and abuse, to participate and to be heard. – Secretary-General United Nations, Ban Ki-moon

Children in every country, culture and society level face abuse, neglect, exploitation or violence, much of which is legal and or socially approved in many countries.

Wherever we work we support those partners who offer a loving and secure environment in which each child is respected and valued, where every child can grow up, explore their potential and receive a quality education and any medical care needed. Read more about the children and young people in our care below.

Beatrice – Kenya – The Kithoka Amani Children’s Home

Beatrice’s mother died when she was a baby and she grew up with her father, who later remarried. Beatrice was unhappy with her step mother’s care and went to live with her grandfather. After some time her grandfather employed a young man who was mentally ill and who tried to rape Beatrice several times. This wasn’t safe for Beatrice and she moved to live with a woman in the community while she was waiting for Amani to open its doors. Beatrice completed High School whilst living at Amani and then successfully undertook some hairdressing and salon training. Her dream is to open her own hair salon.

Oksana – Russia – Kitezh & Orion’s Children’s Community

Oksana came to Kitezh in 2011 when she was eight to live with her foster parents Sergey and Zhenya, who both teach in the Kitezh school. Oksana has an older foster sister Olga, and brother Sasha who also came to Kitezh from Russian orphanages. In the beginning, Oksana was so shy she could barely look anyone in the eye. Her sister Olga gently befriended her, her brother protected her, and her mother and father patiently waited for her to feel safe enough to open up to them. Now aged twelve, Oksana is a very gentle and sociable young girl who loves drawing and acting in the Kitezh drama programme.

Purity – Uganda – Sky’s the Limit Children’s Centre

Purity, aged 10 and HIV⁺ lives with her grandmother and attends Sky Is the Limit School. Her grandmother can’t always afford to feed her, causing problems with her medication and exacerbating the affects of her illness. She used to miss school once or twice a week because she was too weak to attend. We fund school meals for all the children at Sky Is The Limit School, which reduces malnutrition, supports weight gain and improves attendance and concentration in class all contributing to healthier and happier children.

My doctor says I’m much improved as I don’t get sick as often. My grandmother is very happy these days because am not getting sick and not disturbing her with transport fares to the clinic as I used to do and am helping her with the house work, I have now gained weight, I feel more healthy and I have improved in performance in class, my teachers are happy too and am happy too…!, thank you so much for proving us with school meals.

By making a donation or joining our child sponsorship scheme, we invite you to support us in enabling disadvantaged children to fulfil their potential.

So, join us on November 20^th in celebration of children – and donate here to support children in our care.