Children have taken centre stage to address critical issues affecting their lives, from education access to violence prevention, proving that they are not just future leaders but active changemakers.
This is according to the Department of Social Development, which has hosted the Africa Children’s Summit 2025.
Since its opening last week Friday, the summit has brought together some of the brightest and courageous young leaders in person from across Africa, with hundreds joining virtually.
The children who attended in person are from South Africa, South Sudan, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the department said the summit was child-led and child-centred, with its chairperson and programme facilitators all drawn from children invited to the summit.
“Under the theme ‘Seen, Heard, and Engaged in Education,’ the children have boldly taken centre stage to address critical issues affecting their lives, from education access to violence prevention, proving that they are not just future leaders but active changemakers today,” the department said.
One of the child leaders, 17-year-old Ison Cumbane from Mozambique, captured the spirit of the summit when he said: “Many children don’t have the opportunity to speak about their rights. We are here to give a voice to them and show that we can participate and influence decisions.”
The summit wraps up in Johannesburg today.
The child-led initiative is hosted by the South African Government through the Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
An Outcome Statement will be crafted by the children themselves, which will be handed over to the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and other key policymakers.
“The Outcome Statement outlines actionable recommendations for governments and civil society to implement policies that prioritise children’s voices and rights across Africa,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
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