By Our Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
A growing need to sensitise children on child rights is seen as the need of the hour to ensure that they get holistic development.
It is with this view that the Bosco Integrated Development Society (BIDS) initiated a ‘Child Friendly Shillong’ project. There are eight children’s clubs spread across the city under the project.
An active children’s rights group club in Shillong is found in Mawlai Kynton Massar. Teenagers Kerrie Ibalucky Syndor and Nashuwa Nongbet head one such club in Mawlai Kynton Massar. They are also part of the children’s wing in their church (Seng Khynnah Catholic Kynton Massar).
The soft-spoken Syndor told The Meghalayan, “We plan to gather children and ensure that they are busy.”
It was the Child Mobilisation Officer from BIDS who approached the headman of Mawlai Kynton Massar, Marco Mitri, in October. The club started functioning in December.
Mitri said, “They conduct sports activities, cleaning drives and give the children a sense of comfort, which is backed by the shnong.”
There are over 30 members in the club and they plan to gather children from all the four blocks in Mawlai Kynton Massar which has a population of over a thousand children.
The youngest member of the team is 12-years-old. The team with its advisor M Sun is working hard to highlight child’s rights and training of leaders. They are spreading their message through meetings to highlight some of the issues. The parents come with their children and have held 6-7 meetings.
Mitri stressed that though there is an SSA school in Mawlai Kynton Massar yet parents do not send their children to school. He expressed concern that it is the children’s time to enjoy their childhood.
He said that the parents are having a hard time as some of them are single mothers. However, there has been positive response from parents.
Stating that it is the child rights group who can do their bit to reach out to the other children, he said, “Most of the families are from low-income groups and the children are made to babysit their younger siblings instead of going to school. Parents discourage their children from going to school.”
According to him, the children’s groups will act as mentors and help parents understand that children have the right to education.
With the children dropping out of school, Mitri said that the child rights group can intervene and if they face a problem, they can approach the shnong.
Their labour bore fruit when a 14-year-old, who was a drop-out, rejoined school and is currently a member of their club.
“We are watching them closely to tend to the other children and for their emancipation and to free them from the shackles of being caged in families and not able to enjoy their childhood,” he said.
Mitri said that the leaders of the children’s club will become future leaders as they have taken roles in beautification of Kynton Massar, and taking part in sports etc.
Syndor said, “There are parents who are understanding and there are those who do not understand.”
It may be mentioned the children’s club in Mawlai Kynton Massar is the second one to be formed in Shillong while the first one was in Nongmynsong.