The goal of the project is to facilitate children’s participation in decision making and develop their capacity in planning, organizing and coordinating.
Through this project ZCEA aims at creating positive public recognition of children as human beings who deserve respect and whose views should be considered according to their age and maturity; establishing an environment of processes for children’s participation in their schools and influencing policy decisions the Ministry of Education; developing information, education and communication (IEC) materials on participation as a right and school councils as an avenue for children to take part in decision making. We also help to create adult support for child participation by training education authorities, school head teachers, teachers and pupils on the model of school councils and supporting the operationalisation of School Councils in line with the Ministry of Education’s policy of democratizing the education system through citizens’ participation (Educating Our Future. 1996)
ZCEA works through raising awareness, capacity building of adults and children, consultation with communities, media campaigns, surveys, facilitating information and experience sharing and dialogue among children, supportive monitoring visits, development and provision of IEC materials to schools and communities.
Awareness raising: we hold meetings and workshops with education officials, school administrators, teachers, parents, children, community leaders including traditional, civic and religious leaders in target areas to share information and knowledge of children’s rights, child participation and children’s school councils.
Capacity building: we train children, teachers, school administrators, community leaders and education officials in children’s rights, child participation and children’s school councils operations. Other areas of training include leadership and management skills for children, how adults can facilitate children’s participation. We train members of Area and Resident Development Committees in advocacy and monitoring children’s rights in their communities.
Information, education and communication materials development: we develop age specific materials on children’s rights, child participation, children’s school councils operations and community monitoring of children’s rights. Some of these include manuals, fact sheets and leaflets.
