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World Children’s Day, otherwise known as Universal Children’s Day, is celebrated every year on the 20th of November. World Children’s Day offers us an opportunity to promote and celebrate children’s rights that will build a better world for them. ChildFund Australia partners with others to create community and systems change which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights.

When is World Children’s Day?

It is celebrated on 20 November each year.

What is the origin of World Children’s Day? 

World Children’s Day, or Universal Children’s Day, was first observed on 20 November, 1954, with the goal of promoting international cooperation, raising awareness among children around the world, and improving children’s welfare.

The United Nations General Assembly enacted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1959, a major milestone in children’s rights. The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on this day in 1989.

What the convention on the rights of the child says:

  • Children are entitled to an education.
  • Children must be treated with decency and respect. They must be cared for, given opportunities to grow, and included in their communities.
  • Children have the right to have their voices heard and to participate in choices that impact them.
  • Children have the right to be safe from violence and prejudice, regardless of where they live or their ethnic or social origins, abilities, birthplace, or other status. Learn more about child protection.

What is the theme of World Children’s Day 2024?

The theme for World Children’s Day 2024 is “Listen to the Future”. The theme underscores the need to invest in education, safety, and healthy development for every child and encourage children to speak out about their concerns for the future and have a say in the decisions impacting their lives.

Why is World Children’s Day celebrated?

World Children’s Day highlights the importance of advocating for children’s rights, raising awareness about the challenges they face, and promoting their wellbeing, education, and safety. This special day (yes, we might be biased) inspires unified action, reminding us that a brighter future starts with caring for today’s youth. Governments, schools, and organisations all over the world join in to host activities and campaigns aimed at protecting and uplifting children, so that every kid has the chance to grow up in a safer, healthier and more inclusive world. This includes access to essential rights like education, food and clean water.

World Children’s Day is also a chance to amplify the voices of children everywhere, allowing them to share their concerns and dreams for a better future and drive real change.

World Children's Day Cambodia
Playground fun in Cambodia.

Why the right to education is vital

The number of children living in multidimensional poverty – those without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation, or water – is now 584 million, with an additional 333 million children living in extreme poverty. Children in these rural and poor areas don’t have the privilege of being able to remotely access online classes and typically put aside their education entirely to support their family.

Due to the magnitude and complexity of the issue, driving programs to reach the most vulnerable children are necessary. One of the ways that ChildFund works to alleviate child poverty is through the collection of monthly donations, ensuring that children can experiences a childhood in which they are nurtured, protected from child exploitation and given access to opportunity.

Why the right to access food and water is vital

Currently, millions of children worldwide are suffering due to severe shortage of food and water. In Kenya, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with severe drought and conflict, has led to more than 4 million children in need of emergency food assistance. Currently, 1 in 4 children are stunted due to malnutrition,

You can make a difference and provide inclusivity for these children by donating a crisis food pack today. Your donation will provide much-needed supplies to families who need it most, specifically those with children who are hungry and malnourished.

How to get involved with World Children’s Day activities

Parents, guardians, family members, teachers, and other role models can follow the following steps for the wellbeing of children:

  • Support all children’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
  • Listen to their voices and value their thoughts.
  • Treat every child with dignity and respect.
  • Teach children about their rights on this special day.
  • Get involved in their education – positive support boosts their abilities.
  • Engage in fun activities and games together.
  • Ask about their challenges in school and daily life.
  • Encourage children to express their thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Empower children worldwide! Show your support by:

  • Fundraising: Start a fundraiser at your child’s school or host a morning tea or after-school event to raise awareness – and perhaps support a children’s charity of your choice. Did you know it’s easy to create a ChildFund Facebook fundraiser? It only takes a few minutes to set up and is a wonderful way to show your support for children in need around the world.
  • Donate: There are plenty of great and impactful initiatives that protect vulnerable children and their rights, such as ChildFund Australia’s Hunger Crisis Appeal.
  • Go online: Share about World Children’s Day on social media to help spread awareness and increase donations to those in need. Consider using dedicated hashtags like #WorldChildrensDay and #ChildRights

The equal future: supporting children’s rights everywhere

This World Children’s Day, we invite you to join us in educating children of their rights,  protecting and uplifting children. The more children understand their rights, the more they take charge of their place in our society, and the more we can ensure children thrive. Support vulnerable children this World Children’s Day and beyond by signing up to donate monthly to ChildFund Australia this festive season by gifting a Gift for Good.

This generation of young people is the largest in history. Because of this, it is now more important than ever before to make sure youth are fully engaged in social and legal issues. Many young people today must also navigate a number of competing challenges, including rising costs of living, climate change, technological advancements (AI anyone?), inequality and conflict.

When is World Youth Skills Day?

World Youth Skills Day is held annually on 15 July. This year marks the 10 year anniversary of this internationally recognised day for young people.

Why is World Youth Skills Day so important?

World Youth Skills Day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of young people and the skills they bring and can contribute to the world. This includes youth facing disadvantage, including girls and young women, young people with disabilities, young people from poorer households, young indigenous people, young people living in rural communities, and those facing violent conflict and political instability.

World Youth Skills Day aims to break down the barriers that can prevent some young people from accessing work, and to boost productivity and wage levels among youth around the world.

What is this year’s theme?

The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2024, “Youth Skills for Peace and Development“, underscores the crucial role young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. It highlights the potential of young people as agents of peace and our global commitment to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Why we are celebrating World Youth Skills Day!

We are celebrating World Youth Skills Day so young people can have their voices heard and the contributions they are making to the world around them are acknowledged.

How investing in young people can change the world … one community at a time

SreyYorng, 23, (pictured below) is the first person in her village in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia, to graduate from university and become a midwife.

She said the support of her family and the skills she developed in a youth project run by ChildFund Cambodia and local partners helped her to achieve her goal. “My family’s assistance in helping me complete my studies, along with my experiences with youth groups, are what I believe have contributed to my success,” SreyYorng said.

“I am proud to be the first woman to graduate in midwifery in my village.”

As a participant in ChildFund’s youth project several years ago, SreyYorng learnt life and leadership skills. “The training was essential to me as it provided a foundation for my life,” she said. “It taught us how to manage ourselves, lead, be confident, and accomplish life goals,” she said.

SreyYorng said most of the youth who took part in the project had gone on to have successful careers as medical professionals, private sector employees, and business owners.

“We learnt lessons that helped us find a good path in life,” she said.

“The project has changed my life and the lives of many other young people. It taught us topics that were not able to learn in school or university.”

What is the history of World Youth Skills Day?

On the 15 July 2014, the United Nations General Assembly held its first World Youth Skills Day. This was to be a day celebrating the importance of giving young people the skills they will need for good employment, work, and entrepreneurship.

Ever since this day, World Youth Skills Day has continued to provide a one-of-a-kind, crucial opportunity for young people to communicate with technical and vocational education and training institutions, firms, employee and worker organisations, development partners, and policy makers.

This year, World Youth Skills Day 2024 ,will take place amid the continued efforts for socio-economic recovery from the global challenges we face. While the world continues to grapple with these challenges, as well as the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing crises and unrest the resilience and determination of young people have paved the way for progress.

Young people connected with their peers, learnt life skills, and explored topics important to them at the Lao Children’s Forum, supported by ChildFund in Laos.

Why are the global goals for World Youth Skills day so important?

Did you know that the United Nations has 17 targets they aim to address by 2030? Known as the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, or the Global Goals, this global initiative aims to end poverty and help produce sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals is Goal 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Increasing access to affordable and high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays an important role during World Youth Skills Day. After all, TVET can promote economic, social, and environmental development by helping young people and adults attain the skills and training they need for good employment, work and entrepreneurship. It can ensure recognition for a youth’s skills, and even provide skill development opportunities for those who are under-employed, unemployed, or for youth not in education, employment or training.

In the face of challenges such as climate change, humanitarian emergencies, and conflicts, it is more critical than ever to empower all young people, irrespective of where they live, to speak up and continue learning so they can reach their full potential.

How can I support World Youth Skills Day 2024?

All young people should have access to the opportunities and training they need to excel in their work, especially our modern, constantly changing one. You can help by sending a donation to the areas it is most needed.

You can also donate monthly to ChildFund this World Youth Skills Day 2024. This way, your support will last long beyond World Youth Skills Day, helping more than 1,000 children in one year to obtain the support that they need to be as safe, healthy, and educated as possible.