Raising Awareness, Celebrating Creativity, and Empowering Young People
More than one hundred young people took part in the 35th edition of African Child Day, celebrated on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Edimar Princess Grace Centre (CEPG). Organized in partnership with UNICEF U-Report and the 237 Paroles Collective, this awareness-raising event was held under the theme: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
The celebration provided vulnerable young people with an opportunity to reflect on their rights, learn about good hygiene practices, and showcase their talents through a variety of educational and cultural activities. It also served as an opportunity to reaffirm the Edimar Princess Grace Centre’s commitment to protecting, educating, and supporting the social inclusion of vulnerable children and young people.
A Day to Promote Children's Rights
African Child Day is a valuable opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting and respecting the rights of every child. Through this celebration, the Edimar Princess Grace Centre sought to provide young people with a space for dialogue and learning about the challenges they face in their daily lives.
An educational discussion on the origins and significance of African Child Day introduced participants to the history of the Soweto Uprising in South Africa during the apartheid era. This historic movement remains a powerful symbol of the struggle for the rights of African children and young people.
To encourage participation, Mr. Pascal BOYOMO, an educator at the CEPG, led an interactive question-and-answer session on the concept of apartheid. Through these discussions, participants came to understand that, like the young people of Soweto, they too have rights that they must know, defend, and uphold.
Hygiene: An Essential Step Toward Good Health
Building on these discussions, UNICEF U-Report youth volunteers led a workshop on the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Through interactive questions, participants shared their knowledge of the essential practices needed to stay healthy. Many of the young people emphasized the importance of washing regularly with clean water and soap, washing hands before meals, and adopting good hygiene habits in everyday life. The discussions highlighted the close link between proper hygiene and disease prevention.
A quiz session rewarded the most attentive and engaged participants with hygiene kits containing soap, toothbrushes, and washcloths. The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by young people living on the streets, including health risks, harassment, and police roundups. Participants emphasized the essential role played by the Edimar Princess Grace Centre, which provides them each day with educational support, access to water and hygiene facilities, and services that promote their social reintegration.
Discovering and Celebrating Young Talent
Following the awareness sessions, the young participants expressed their creativity and talents through singing, dancing, artistic competitions, and a theatrical performance organized with the support of the 237 Paroles Collective. Led by Free-T, a spoken-word artist and actress, the young performers presented a play portraying the journey of a child living on the streets, abandoned and left to fend for himself before being welcomed by the educators of the Edimar Princess Grace Centre. The performance highlighted the importance of guidance, attentive listening, and compassion in helping vulnerable young people rebuild their lives.
Through their performances, the participants demonstrated that they possess remarkable talents and that they, too, have the right to dream, to thrive, and to build their own future. The celebration continued with a dance competition bringing together the Centre’s various groups in a festive and friendly atmosphere. The day’s activities concluded with a shared community meal enjoyed by the young people, educators, and partner organizations—a moment of fellowship that strengthened the bonds created throughout the day.
Growing Up with Dignity, Building the Future
Beyond the day’s activities, African Child Day served as a reminder that every child has the right to protection, education, health, and hope. The contributions of the UNICEF U-Report youth ambassadors and the 237 Paroles Collective helped make this celebration a meaningful occasion for awareness, dialogue, and self-expression for the children and young people of the Centre.
Through this initiative, the Edimar Princess Grace Centre reaffirms its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable children and young people, enabling them to grow up with dignity, develop their full potential, and become active architects of their own future.