Islamic Relief organises “Children’s Recreational Day”As part of its efforts to raise awareness about child-related issues and child rights in Pakistan as well as to provide some child-friendly space for poor orphaned children sponsored by it, Islamic Relief holds regular “Children’s Recreational Day” at a local hotel.
Children from poor areas of Rawalpindi took part in recreational activities and met with civil society, educationists, university students, the media to share their issues with the public.
While addressing the large gathering at event, the Country Director of Islamic Relief Pakistan, Fadlullah Wilmot said nutrition, education, better healthcare and a healthy environment are the basic rights of children. He said it is very important to treat future generation with love and respect and to provide all children of whatever race, religion or sex with equal opportunities to explore new horizons.
Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to which every child has an equal right to life, health, nutrition, education and freedom of expression. “It is our duty to take care of children and provide them all the necessary facilities to exercise these rights and as an Islamic country it is even more essential to implement the teachings of Islam which make it obligatory to treat all children with love, give them their rights and prevent exploitation”, he added.
“We need not to show compassion in words but stop the exploitation of children at all levels especially under-aged children in the workplace especially those working in hazardous occupations.”
“It is shameful to find such violation of the moral and ethical teachings of Islam where adults are exploiting the labour or young children.”
The Head of Islamic Relief Pakistan’s Development Programmes, Adnan Bin Junaid said children are capable of great things when they grow up in the right conditions-with love and enough food and water for a healthy start to life, with equal opportunities to learn, free from threats of violence and exploitation which is something that no boy or girl should ever have to face. “To survive and thrive, children need guidance. They need education, health, safety, security and chance to develop their abilities in order to take full advantage of their potential” While highlighting Islamic Relief’s Child Welfare Programme, he said Islamic Relief is focusing on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, particularly those that include improving access to primary education, reducing child mortality, and improving access to health facilities. Most importantly, our efforts help our sponsored children to complete their education and turn into healthy, educated and productive adults. He said statistics revealed that 20 per cent of children die of pneumonia, seven percent children have to face psychological negligence and abuse at their homes and 11 per cent of children in the world are unable to access medically treatment when sick. “We have to bring up our future generation in better way.”
At the event children took part in different activities such as drawing competitions, eating competitions, Mehndi competitions, and a child rights awareness quiz. Children captured their ideas and hopes on canvas.
