From Kenya to New York with the Click of a Mouse Deck: PLAN Uses Technology to Bring Children's Voices to the United Nations

Childreach
Monday, 23 April 2001

"Hello. . . I am Esther from Kenya. How do you support the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?"

These words were the first to appear on a computer screen in New York, beginning an hour-long Web chat between children and delegates at the United Nations and their students in a PLAN program areacounterparts in Kenya.

The transcontinental linkup-in English, on computers provided by PLAN International, a child-focused development organization-gave children at both ends a chance to demonstrate their concern for children's rights issues, and their ability to discuss serious matters, such as "the right to a free basic education," with their leaders.

Participants in New York included delegates to the Second Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) Meeting for the forthcoming Special Session on Children (to be held in September, 2001) and children representing a variety of international organizations, including Save the Children and UNICEF. The Kenya group included a contingent of eighth-graders from a Nairobi school.

The exchange began from a basement exhibit hall at UN headquarters in New York, as two students, from Kenya and South Africa, seated at computer terminals communicated with each other. As the session progressed, 15 other children stepped in to take their place-and a large crowd gathered to watch them tap out their questions and replies. For one hour, they communicated about children's rights issues: the children in Kenya, wanting to make sure that the children at the UN would represent their concerns at a youth forum, asked for help preventing violence in their communities and securing the right to basic and free education. The children at the UN promised to bring these concerns to the forum.

M.G.N. Kahende, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kenyan Mission to the UN, joined the discussion, reading the children's concerns, and promising to address them through his work at the Mission. When Esther asked of him: "What topics will you present on our behalf?" He responded: " . . . the right to basic education, healthcare, social security, and the basic needs of a child."

Not all the UN workers, tourists and passersby who stopped to see what was happening could get close enough to read the words that appeared on the standard-sized computer screens, leading PLAN officials to speculate about getting a bigger monitor next time. PLAN also hopes to use digital cameras at the next PrepCom, to let children at both ends of the connection see whom they're talking to.

The experience was thrilling as young people at opposite ends of the worlds shared their concerns and ideas which, in the end, turned out to be very similar: the rights of children to be safe, healthy, and to have the opportunity to grow and learn. The messages inspired many to move forward and ensure that children's rights are protected.

PLAN International participated at the invitation of UNICEF, which was seeking new ways to present children's views, in their own words, to the conference attendees. PLAN decided, under the leadership of Mohan Thazhathu, its Rights of the Child team leader, to take advantage of the latest technology to demonstrate that there are no excuses for leaving children out of decision-making. If PLAN could bring children's voices "live" from their countries to New York, the thinking went, then delegates should be able to reach them, as well. It is possible and necessary for us to stay in touch with children around the world, and technology can help us meet this goal.

One of many NGOs charged with bringing the voices of children to the forum, PLAN had originally planned to use both Internet and video communication for a live satellite feed. That proved too ambitious for its first effort. Members of PLAN's Rights of the Child Team strategized with UN and UNICEF staff on available technologies, identifying technical and human-resource needs. They then shared these developments with staff overseas to ensure that they would be able to participate.

One of the trickiest maneuvers was scheduling a convenient time for the New York-Nairobi link-up. The time difference limited arrangements to early morning in New York, which was after school in Kenya.

The morning of the scheduled chat, PLAN staff tested the iPASS software (which provides global remote access across multiple networks) and performed a trial run with Kenya. At first, nothing happened. But, after a quick troubleshooting phone call to Kenya, the chat was live!

PLAN also made a video presentation at a Global Movement for Children Rallying Call event during the PrepCom. Logistical problems prevented a live satellite feed to that event, but a 10-minute video featured PLAN children in El Salvador and Togo asking their delegates to address specific issues that affect them in their homes. The children in El Salvador were particularly moving as they described the effects of recent earthquakes on themselves and their families.

Although the use of information and communications technologies complicated presentations at the global conference, being able to help children participate in a traditionally "adults only" forum made it well worth the effort, participants said. PLAN's collaboration with UNICEF broke new ground in the movement to involve NGOs in the work of the United Nations, and set new standards for engaging youth in issues that impact their growth and well being.

The next Prepcom is scheduled for June and plans are underway to expand the use of information and communications technologies to involve youth and NGOs. But the big event will be the Special Session in September, featuring live satellite links to children in at least two or three countries.

For more information on NGO use of information and communications technology at the Special Session, contact Hugh Minor, public information manager at Childreach, the US member of PLAN International, at minorh@childreach.org.

For more information, or to contact Childreach, see their website at: www.childreach.org