The power of a child's voice

Written by World Vision India; Edited by Kaija Hutteri and Katie Hackett

Many families living in Faridabad arrived in search of a better life. Without the skills or education needed to find a good job in the city, parents find themselves working menial jobs and struggling to provide for their children. In some areas, boys and girls lack basic essentials like clean water and toilets.

Children’s clubs encourage kids to speak up

With the support of Canadians who sponsor children in Faridabad, we are empowering a new generation of leaders to improve their community. These leaders may be small, but their dreams and their impact are not to be underestimated.

Throughout this impoverished community, girls and boys attend children’s clubs. While building friendships and having fun, children and youth also learn vital skills. As they discuss issues they face in their daily lives and brainstorm solutions, boys and girls grow in confidence and improve their communication skills.

“You cannot help make change happen unless you speak up,” says Sharad, a Grade 1 student who participates actively in one of the clubs.

Young people making big changes

One victory at a time, girls and boys are working together to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. Their achievements include stopping a marriage that involved a child and convincing 45 children that had dropped out of school to begin attending regularly again.

As poor sanitation is a major issue impacting the health of Faridabad’s families, members of children’s clubs have organized initiatives to teach community members about the importance of using the toilet. Now, after learning about a government program that helps vulnerable families, 200 families have proper toilets in their homes.

Armed with knowledge, newfound confidence and dreams of a brighter future, boys and girls from Faridabad are boldly taking on the challenge of transforming their community. The voices of children can indeed be powerful.