Our Rights You Tube Trailer by Karen Upper, Near North School Board, Library services:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYYWsPYlhE
Silver Birch Nomination, 2014
Jane Addams Peace Book Award nomination
Our Rights: How Kids are Changing the World
ISBN 978-1-926920-95-5
$18.95 Hardcover with jacket
32 Pages • 8 x 8
Ages: 8+
Kids have the power to make social change
A girl who spoke out against her government for the rights of aboriginal children, a boy who walked across his country to raise awareness of homelessness, and a former child soldier who wants to make music not war. Here are true stories of kids who are standing up for their rights. Dylan Mahalingam from the USA started an online charity to raise money to fight child poverty. The bravery of Nujood Ali Mohammed from Yemen inspired other girls who were being forced to marry too young. Anita Khushwaha from India became a beekeeper to pay for school, even though it was considered a job only men could do. All of them are making a difference for children’s rights.
A girl who spoke out against her government for the rights of aboriginal children, a boy who walked across his country to raise awareness of homelessness, and a former child soldier who wants to make music not war. Here are true stories of kids who are standing up for their rights. Dylan Mahalingam from the USA started an online charity to raise money to fight child poverty. The bravery of Nujood Ali Mohammed from Yemen inspired other girls who were being forced to marry too young. Anita Khushwaha from India became a beekeeper to pay for school, even though it was considered a job only men could do. All of them are making a difference for children’s rights.
Our Rights is a collection of inspirational stories about young people who have learned about their rights and have taken action to defend not only their own, but the rights of other children without a voice.
"Children should not be used as pawns in wars that adults choose to fight. The enormous money spent on futile wars could be diverted into education, poverty reduction, and job training for neglected youths to alleviate the conditions that fuel wars."
Salifu Kamara, 15, Sierra Leone.
"Children should not be used as pawns in wars that adults choose to fight. The enormous money spent on futile wars could be diverted into education, poverty reduction, and job training for neglected youths to alleviate the conditions that fuel wars."
Salifu Kamara, 15, Sierra Leone.
“We are the world's children.” Gabriela Arrieta, 13, Bolivia.
In 1989, the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child declared that all children have basic human rights regardless of race, sex, religion, or any other status, and that they needed to be informed of their rights. Promises were made to children that their rights would be honored; yet the majority still lives in poverty, goes to bed hungry, and is denied education. Millions are victims of violence, war, exploitation, and abuse; girls are especially vulnerable. One child in five dies from preventable causes. Children want leaders to live up to their commitments. Children want change. They want to be heard!
Curriculum Themes: Social Justice; UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; Millennium Development Goals;
Global issues: child exploitation, child soldiers, child labour, trafficking; universal education; poverty; health, sanitation, HIV/AIDS; aboriginal, juvenile, and environmental justice; refugees and unaccompanied minors, gender, racial, disabled equality; Peace, non-violence, bullying; citizenship
Character Education: Courage, Kindness, Compassion, Respect, Empathy; Feeling deeply, acting responsibly and wisely, thinking critically; volunteering, activism, working together, making positive choices, the power of youth, the power of one, optimism.
Global issues: child exploitation, child soldiers, child labour, trafficking; universal education; poverty; health, sanitation, HIV/AIDS; aboriginal, juvenile, and environmental justice; refugees and unaccompanied minors, gender, racial, disabled equality; Peace, non-violence, bullying; citizenship
Character Education: Courage, Kindness, Compassion, Respect, Empathy; Feeling deeply, acting responsibly and wisely, thinking critically; volunteering, activism, working together, making positive choices, the power of youth, the power of one, optimism.