The Sunday Mail
Kendra Chimedza
DEAR child, when I look at you, I worry a lot.
This world will mould you into what it wants; panel beat you into a hardened shape until you cannot feel anymore.
It will sharpen your ‘assumed’ blunt edges so that you can stand above the storm but later crash you when it is done doing damage.
When I look at you dear child, my heart aches.
You are still a child but trying hard to be a man.
The cocoon that you are sheltered in is meant to protect you until you reach maturity.
I see you struggling to break the silk prematurely so that you venture into the world of adulthood but that is wrong and dangerous.
This incubator that you think is your prison actually helps to nature you into an adult that you yearn to be.
Wait for your time.
Maturity comes with age.
When the time is ripe, the sun will shine on you and nations will give you a standing ovation.
Embracing children’s privileges
Many of us take childhood as an important phase in life.
But when it comes to children, we need to reconsider on issues to do with gender equality.
Many countries take women/females for granted.
They consider them as only fit for marriage. A woman is either married to a rich family or made a custodian of the rural home.
Girls are often disadvantaged when it comes to education, jobs and leadership roles in society.
Also, some parents or adults take the young souls for granted. They wrongly assume the young minds are active and ready to be used as cheap labour.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child explains who children are and all their rights and responsibilities of governments.
Some of the rights include the right to be born well –meaning it is the parents’ responsibility to make sure that they can provide a safe environment for their unborn child.
This includes proper medical attention and care until they reach adulthood.
Every child has the right to a wholesome life.
The child’s learning environment and teachers are their home and family. They are entitled to be part of a loving family in a community.
Children also have the right to basic needs such as a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper health care and any of those to satisfy their wants.
Similarly, every child has the right to education.
This means every child should have the means to go to a classroom and have access to books and learning materials that can enrich their intelligence and skills.
It is said, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Thus children also have the right to play and enjoy their youth. They must engage in a lot of productive recreational activities whenever possible and not be exploited as cheap labour.
Instead, as children, we need to be protected from danger which include all hazards that could affect our mental, physical and emotional state.
Other rights requiring attention include the right to live in a productive environment. The right to be cared for in the absence of parents or guardians, right to good governance and right to freedom and peace.
That said, it is unfortunate that we have some rogue adults that are destroying innocent children’s lives by introducing them to drugs, sexual activities, social media profiling and among many other ills.
We need the elders, teachers, schools, companies and organisations to come together to give children a networking environment of physical activities like sports and art classes.
The home environment should also restrict them from the world’s harsh activities and promote cultural activities that boost life skills.
Children do not need to be taught stuff!
“Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race.
‘‘There are people dying, if you care enough for the living, make it a better place for you and for me,” sang the late Michael Jackson in “Heal The World”.
Let us love, live and learn in peace and harmony for a better tomorrow.
Students can write short poems/stories or about special events at their schools and send to prince. [email protected]
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