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The aim of World Children’s Day , which is celebrated annually on 20 November, is to raise awareness of and support children’s welfare across the globe.
The observance can trace its origins back to the mid-19th century, when a sermon delivered by a pastor in the US inspired the conception of a day in honour of children .
Here is everything you need to know about World Children’s Day:
What is it’s significance? World Children’s Day, the United Nations (UN ) states , is an event that promotes “international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare”.
The event was formally inaugurated as an international occasion by the UN in 1954.
It subsequently became associated with the UN General Assembly’s 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the organisation’s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 30 years later.
Sixty years ago, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child set in stone a key universal value for the first time, stating unequivocally that “mankind owes to the child the best it has to give”.
1990 marked the first year that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and Convention on children’s rights.
The date of World Children’s Day can vary between nations, as countries including China, the Czech Republic and Portugal celebrate it on 1 June.
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Show all 17 1 /17Syria’s children waiting in doorways Syria’s children waiting in doorways Shayma al Hassan, five, a Syrian refugee born in Lebanon Her family arrived from the city of Halab in 2014. They lived on the perimeter of Halab airport in Syria, which was under control of the Syrian Free Army. As they fled under the cover of darkness by car they saw dead bodies of families lining the pavements and roads near their home. They would love to return to Syria at some point in time but “life in Lebanon is better than a war zone”. Lack of water, and financial handouts being cut by aid agencies means the family have less access to food.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Ahmed Abdulaziz Farai, three, was born a Syrian refugee in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon His family arrived in 2014 from the city of Raqqa. They were faced with the impossible dilemma, stay in Syria and face conscription to the government regime, join Isis who were in full swing or leave to neighbouring Lebanon that has shouldered approximately 2 million refugees from Syria. Ahmed’s father, Abdulaziz, who works as a painter and decorator is yet to be paid four months wages by his Lebanese employers, putting enormous financial strain on his family. They all want to return home to Syria if they can together as a family if the situation allows it in the future.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Warda al Hammoud, nine, from Reef Halab in Syria arrived at Mohsin Yaseen Camp, Bekka Valley They fled fierce fighting between government forces and Isis. Airstrikes destroyed their home. After settling on the Turkish border for two months they decided to move to Lebanon. Smugglers demanded $1200 (£950) to facilitate passage for the family. They work eight-hour days for $13 per day to ensure that all bills are paid. Warda is in grade 1 in school and has hopes one day to become a doctor. The family prayers during the holy month of Ramadan is to return home to Syria one day.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Sharook Sbaa, nine, lives in Jaraheyi Camp in the Bekaa Valley She arrived in Lebanon in 2013 from Reef Halab. The journey to Lebanon took three days across the mountain using smugglers at a cost of $300. Sharook’s mother, Tharah, tripped and fell, breaking her arm on the journey whilst six months pregnant. The Syrian Free Army destroyed their schools because they were funded by the regime state. She dreams of becoming a doctor. Tharah laughs, turns to Sharook and said “how can you possibly dream of becoming a doctor if you have never been to school?”
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Waedad Sheikh, seven, is a Syrian refugee from Haleb She arrived with her family in the Bekaa Valley in 2013. Her mother Malachy ran away with the children, alone, as her husband was working away at the time to provide an income for his family. They left with only the clothes on their backs as the neighbouring homes were being bombarded by heavy tank artillery and airstrikes. Waedad was extremely scared as they came across the mountain that they may be caught by officials. She dreams of being able to go to school one day soon, although, her request for enrollment has been rejected many times due to lack of funding.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Hiba al Masader five, was born in a refugee camp in Lebanon Hiba suffers from hay fever and can’t stop rubbing her eyes. Her hands are covered in dirt and bacteria from the camp where rats live among the rubbish, open sewers and drains. Her father Ghadeer explains that doctors are concerned her eyes are becoming infected. This could permanently damage her vision unless regular medication is purchased at a cost of $5 per week Ghadeer simply can no longer afford.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Aziz, six, and Majid Al Haj Mohamed nine, arrived from Reef Halab with their family in 2014 after crossing over the mountains The family now live in Jaraheyi Camp in the Bekaa Valley. They work prising scrap metal from the dirt of the camp and the surrounding land, which they sell to dealers for 65p/kg. When asked what they were working to be able to afford, they replied: “We just want to be able to help our families to buy food.”
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Hiba Alawad Hilali 10, and her family arrived in Lebanon from Raqa in Syria in 2017 They were illegally smuggled across the mountains and entered the country like so many others. Isis had taken control of Raqqa, residents of the city like Hiba and her family were prisoners in their own homes without access to regular food or water. She passes the time by playing hopscotch with her friends. However she has never been to school or sat in a classroom. Hiba can only write her name but she still dreams of becoming a teacher one day. The family have made several applications for her to go to school only for it to be rejected on the basis there is no space and no funding for new classes or facilities.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Aymen al Yasr, six, arrived from Raqa in Syria in 2016 and now lives in the Bekaa Valley They fled their home after a neighbour’s house was hit by airstrikes, killing all members of the household. Aymen’s father made the passage to Lebanon ahead of the family to find the safest route and then returned to collect them. Aymen has made good friends in the camp and has started grade one in satellite school operated in the camp for restricted hours in the week.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Yasmeen Ahmed, eight, left Alleppo, Syria when war broke out in 2012 They had very little access to food or water and so were forced to become refugees in neighbouring Lebanon. They feel it would be impossible to return back to Syria not knowing if they have anything to return to. The UN provide $200 per month for the whole family which must provide for eight people. The family explained “they urgently need funds to ease the financial burden here at Mohsin Yaseen Camp in the Bekaa Valley. The rent on their tarpaulin tent is $150 per month excluding electricity. The family have an $800 loan from the camp shop which they are struggling to repay as the family have been in various forms of employment but have been without any work for two months.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Louay Al Hassan, five, a Syrian refugee at Mohsin Yaseen Camp, Bekka Valley, Lebanon, arrived from Reef Halab in 2017 During the time in which they fled, Isis had infiltrated all the neighbouring towns and villages. They were trapped. The only available option was to plan their escape under the cover of darkness. They used boats to escape across rivers. Louay and his family live on less than a dollar per day each which covers food, heating and any other expenses. They have to pay $100 ground rent for their tent to their Lebanese landlord. Landlords evict tenants immediately if they miss one month’s rent. They mainly eat rice and cant afford to buy vegetables that often. Meat is the rarest of luxuries, at a cost of around $17 per kg for lamb. The family run a credit line of up to $700 with the camp shop in order to survive. Louay and his mother Khadeeja wish during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims worldwide to be able to return to Syria with dignity.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Azzadin Jassam, eight, from Reef Halab, arrived in Lebanon in 2012 as civil warfare engulfed the country They arrived illegally over the mountains with smugglers at a cost of $400. His father Zacharia currently works in a restaurant as a cleaner, until harvest season when he will start picking potatoes in the fields for around $10 for eight hours per day. Azzadin’s youngest sister, Jaydeh, lies on the floor of the family tent, wrapped in a blanket to protect her from the draft finding its way in. Zacharia raises her trouser leg and jumper to reveal her painfully emaciated and skeletal frame. Jaydeh has been sent home by a Lebanese hospital to die. The family, powerless, could no longer afford to fund the hospital bills. At six months old she caught a virus which in turn restricted the supply of oxygen to the brain. She has led a mainly normal life in part, however, the past few months has seen her condition deteriorate. Jaydeh died that afternoon in the camp. His father’s wish during the holy month of Ramadan is “to have my beautiful daughter alive with us”.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Najwah Alawi, 12, a Syrian refugee, arrived in Lebanon from Todmor, Homs, in 2014 Life was extremely difficult when war broke out in Syria. Food was incredibly scarce. They were forced to sell their livestock to pay for food. Najwah’s father has been forced to take whatever employment he can to ensure the family is provided for. The family rely on handouts of food from the Syrian community of refugees. Najwah is fortunate to attend a government-funded school paid for by a private donor; she is the cleverest girl in her year and has hopes of becoming a doctor in the future.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Yasr al Ali, 10, arrived from Raqqa in 2016, displaced through civil war Yasr’s family had to run from the Syrian regime and Isis arriving on foot across the mountain pass. He explains “life here is really hard, I miss my home in Syria”. Yasr is in grade KG3 in school and hopes to become a businessman when he completes his schooling. He dreams of one day being able to buy a house and a car.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Aisha Sheikh, two, was born in the camp. Her family They arrived to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon in 2013 Her mother Malachy ran away with the kids alone as her husband was working away at the time to provide an income for his family. They left with only the clothes on their backs as the neighbouring homes were being bombarded by heavy tank artillery and airstrikes. There has been no news from relatives in Syria for over six years.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Hassan Khudr, six, arrived from Haleb in Syria in 2014 and now lives in the Bekaa Valley They fled their home after a neighbour’s house was hit by a shell. He has made good friends in the camp. His mother Aisha explains that life is extremely hard in the camps and the winter was so cold with heavy rainfall for prolonged periods causing the settlements to flood.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Syria’s children waiting in doorways Ghayda Jassam, five, born a Syrian refugee in Lebanon Her family escaped civil war, arrived from Reef Halab in 2012, illegally over the mountains with smugglers at a cost of $400. Her father Zacharia currently works in a restaurant as a cleaner, until harvest season when he will start picking potatoes in the fields for around $10 for eight hours per day.
Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid
Unicef , the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, outlines that World Children’s Day is a “time to celebrate and a time to demand action”.
“Kids are taking a stand around the world to say: it is time for every child, to have every right,” the organisation states.
How did it begin? On the second Sunday of June 1856, a pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Massachusetts, US named Reverend Dr Charles Leonard delivered a service dedicated to children.
Reverend Leonard’s sermon proved so popular that it inspired a day in honour of children called Rose Day, which was later renamed Flower Sunday.
The observance of Flower Sunday eventually led to the creation of Children’s Day.
The first official declaration of Children’s Day was made by Turkey on 23 April 1929, having already been celebrated across the country for nine years.
When is Children’s Day celebrated in the UK? While World Children’s Day falls in November every year but the UK’s National Children’s Day is celebrated on 17 May in an effort to encourage children to spend time outdoors in nature.
“National Children’s Day UK is all about the importance of a healthy childhood, and how we need to protect the rights and freedoms of children in order to ensure that they can grow into happy, healthy adults,” states the National Children’s Day UK website .
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