What is Child Participation?

Child Participation recognizes the potential of the child to enrich decision-making processes; to share the perspectives and participate as a citizen and an actor of change. Involving children as participants for change enjoy greater efficiency and effectiveness in the process. Whether in relation to projects that focus on issues of specific concern to children or development in the community, children’s participation is considered to lead to better decision –making. To work with children is the most effective way to bring out issues of concern within the community, as the young are less inhibited in their discussion of matters otherwise considered ”sensitive”.

Child Participation initiatives in our projects: -

• Children of our projects were part of the selection panel, which recruited the ECP&CP team. They questioned the candidates on issues related to their posts and graded them on their performance. The decision taken by the children were considered for the final selection of the candidates.
  
• In SPEDY, Dindigul children’s meetings were conducted regularly to discuss children’s need; improvement in the quality of food; measures to keep the environment clean; specific children’s problem etc., To start with, SPEDY staff facilitated these meetings but now children conduct by themselves. It is compulsory to meet once a month but there is no restriction for frequency of meetings. The Minutes of the Meeting (MOM) are recorded in a specific book. The rules and regulation, needs, problem and all issues related to the children and young people were discussed in the meeting. The children voice their opinion, which is considered for the development of the project.
  
• In SPEDY, Palani children and young people play a major role in lobbying for their rights from their employers. For example, 5 street boys were working in a refreshment center where the owner extracted more work and gave less pay, abused them and demanded money for night stay. After orientation on child rights by our staff, they in turn explained to their owner and demanded minimal hours of work with rest and correct pay. Now the working hours are 8 hours with an increase in salary.
  
• Children and young people help their fellow inmates both monetary and with needs. They celebrate birthdays together with refreshments and demand a special meal from the center. If there is death in an inmate’s family, fellow children and young people (C.Y.P) form together to perform the ceremony. Inmates help other children to reinstate back to their family by counseling and guiding them. They thrust upon them the importance of living in the family if a person has one.

Child Participation Indicators: -

Improvement in life with leadership qualities; decision making and problem solving techniques; self-confidence; physical mental and social well being; relationship building; skills on listening, writing and speaking; involvement in the work; sharing of needs and resources; lobbying for their rights; hereby prejudice and guilt has come down.

Adult perspective: -

• Project staff, house parents and teachers have learnt to listen to children
• Staff have a better understanding of problems
• They accept that it is possible to learn from children.

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