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On June 16, 1971 more than 20,000 South African students in the township of Soweto took to the streets — demanding to be taught in their own language. Armed police officers responded by murdering hundreds of protesters.
Now a public holiday in South Africa, referred to as Youth Day, it’s also recognized as International Day of the African Child throughout the world. The day focuses attention on the barriers African children face in order to receive a quality education.
The world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent Africa observes a day that pays tribute to those who lent their hands in the Soweto Uprising.
Every year child rights activists, communities and organizations put vital efforts into working on child’s rights and helping students reach their aims.
International Day of the African Child 2022 Theme
The theme for the Day of the African Child 2022 is “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy And Practice since 2013”. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child selected this theme for commemorating the International Day of the African Child 2022.
International Day of the African Child History and Significance
The Day of the African Children continually aims to promote the idea of giving good and quality education to the African kids. Apart from this, the observance’s roots go back to June 16, 1976. The date marks the morning incident of the Soweto uprising, a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa.
The protest that raised the issue of teaching quality was followed for over two weeks. The procession of black students was more than half a mile long. Thousands of African students were shot straightly and injured, the most famous being 12-year-old Hector Pieterson. One can observe the Day of the African Child by being a part of donation and charity systems for minors, volunteering at local schools, and learning about the continents, its people and their issues.
