Dikwankwetla – Children in Action: Facilitating children's participation in the Children's Bill
This project facilitated a group of children from four provinces to participate in the deliberations during the legislative process for a new Children’s Act in South Africa.
The Dikwankwetla – Children in Action Project was led by the Children’s Institute, with the assistance of adult caregivers from The Samaritan Centre in Limpopo province; Zisize Educational Trust in KwaZulu-Natal and Naledi Lifeskills in North West province. The caregivers lived in the same communities as the children involved in the project and were able to provide immediate support to the children’s activities, such as accompanying them to the public hearings on the Children’s Billl.
During submissions on the Children’s Amendment Bill towards the end of 2006, the children demonstrated a relatively good understanding of the sections of the draft legislation that were of concern to them. In their submissions, they spoke about challenges facing children in their communities, including substance use, child abuse and neglect, and the shortage of social workers. They also provided recommendations on how provisions in the Children’s Amendment Bill could address these issues.
The project was evaluated by the children and the caregivers (see report listed below) before closing in 2007.
Further reading
Dikwankwetla – Children in Action Project evaluation workshop report
Mukoma W 2007
There were comfortable chairs and we sat in the whole of the front row
Dikwankwetla – Children in Action 2007
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 6, March 2007.
Facilitating the involvement of children: Dikwankwetla and the Children's Amendment Bill
Jamieson L 2007
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 6, March 2007.
Heroes in action: Child advocates in South Africa
Mniki N & Rosa S 2007
Children, Youth and Environments, 17(3): 189-207.
Evaluating a child participation project at the CI
Mukoma W 2007
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 6, March 2007.
Actualising the right to participate
Mniki N 2005
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 3, June 2005.
Dikwankwetla in Parliament!
Mniki N 2004
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 2, November 2004.
Dikwankwetla – Children in Action!: Children's participation in the Children's Bill
Mniki N 2004
In: Child Rights in Focus, Issue Number 1, May 2004.