KUALA LUMPUR: Every child is talented and special in their own way. Even if they are different, it can be the basis to guiding and moulding them at a young age – to shape their identity as they grow and develop into adults.
This year’s National Children’s Day celebration, themed ‘Our Rights, Our Future’, will focus on the development of talent among the nation’s younger generations.
The celebration will be held today at Holiday Villa Johor Baru and will be launched by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Director of the Child Development Department at the Social Welfare Department, Dr Sopian Brahim, said children were valuable national assets in determining the direction and future of Malaysia – and therefore their roles should be formed at a young age.
“Every child is unique and talented, with diverse individual skills, intelligence, development and growth. They are like jewels that need polishing as important assets towards shaping the country’s future,” he told Bernama here recently.
Sopian said children needed to be celebrated and developed in the best possible way to become successful adults who were able to contribute to the country in various fields.
In line with the theme, he said, this year’s celebration sought to acknowledge, promote and celebrate the rights of children, which must be translated into effective action and ultimately the foundation to provide a better life for all children.
The theme emphasised the importance of providing children with essential tools and resources needed to achieve their potential, thereby enabling them to become productive and responsible members of society, he added.
According to Sopian, the aim of this year’s Children’s Day celebration was to respect and recognise children by honouring their rights in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Sopian said the most critical needs of children must be protected from all forms of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation, and to be provided with guidance to avoid misbehaviour and prevent them from committing criminal acts.
The celebration will also include the presentation of awards to children who have shown extraordinary traits or achievements in the community, namely the Hang Tuah Medal Award and the Gemilang Children Awards.
Children’s Day was first organised by the International Union For Child Welfare in 1953 and later recognised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in 1954.
