Fiji - child-led group
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Kids Link Fiji is a child-led group which campaigns for children’s rights, including the right to be protected from violence. It has been running since 2003, and is supported by Save the Children Fiji. In 2008, they won an award for their work on children's rights, including corporal punishment.
The members of Kids Link are aged 11 – 18. Kids Link Alumni is a separate group for young people aged 18 - 25, which formed as young people who were members of Kids Link passed the age of 18 but still wanted to be involved and to advocate for children’s rights. There are about 12 Alumni members. There are about 50 Kids Link members in total, but there are never more than 15 members at a meeting, and two adults. There are generally more girls involved than boys.
Originally, children became members of Kids Link through school, and Save the Children Fiji. Then members decided that they wanted to bring in people they knew to the group, not just anybody. So they chose to introduce new members using a buddy system, where children who were already members could bring a friend. During their annual membership drive, they also attempted to leave flyers in places where children will find them, such as coffee shops, and in schools.
At the beginning of the year, Kids Link members have a workshop where they draw up plans for the year. Kids Link have their meetings once a week after school. At meetings, they plan projects or Save the Children Fiji carries out training activities on child rights, child protection or child participation. Children decide for themselves which issues they will work on. These have included corporal punishment in schools. Kids Link members also visit communities, such as orphanages and old people’s homes. They also do awareness raising and advocacy.
In 2008, Kids Link and the Alumini organised a “dance-off” for the Save the Children Day of Action to End Violence against Children. They members came up with this idea as a non-violent way of expressing themselves. They also welcomed other children to join in the campaign, and collected children’s handprints.
Save the Children Fiji have partnered with US Peace Corps Volunteers to make more Kids Link Groups in the western and northern divisions of Fiji. So, Save the Children Fiji carries out training with the adult peace corps facilitators on child rights and child participation.
Kids Link members have also been invited to child led groups and regional workshops hosted by Save the Children Sweden in Hong Kong, Cambodia and Bangkok. This has helped them to share their ideas and experiences with other child led groups in South-East Asia and feel that they are not alone.
In 2008 Kids Link Fiji won an award for their work with children’s rights. The prize was a share of US$20,000. One of the founding members of Kids Link who now lives in New York was able to receive the award on behalf of the members. They will use some of the money to make TV adverts about children’s rights.
Kids Link Fiji base all their work on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The children also wrote their Vision and Mission
At the beginning of each year, Kids Link members’ parents have a pot-luck dinner, where they can talk about their children’s plans for the year. The parents are generally supportive of their children, and some children attend Kids Link for many years. Some parents say that their children have become more respectful through being involved in Kids Link Fiji – they have learned about responsibilities as well as rights.
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