Every 16 June is a day to commemorate African Child Day. It was initiated in 1991 by the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This was to honor those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 and also to raise awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
In Soweto, South Africa, on 16 June 1976, close to 10,000 black school children paraded in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and requesting their right to be taught in their language. More than 100 young students were shot, the most famous of which being Hector Pieterson. In the following two weeks, more than a hundred people were killed in the protests, and more than a thousand were injured.
For the remembrance of this day, every 16 June, governments, NGOs, international organizations, and stakeholders come together to discuss matters arising in the rights of Children in Africa.
People around the world celebrate this day by bringing out insight into the education system in Africa by sharing their views on social media using the hashtag #educationforAfrica, #InternationalDayOfTheAfricanChild.
People also work together with organizations that contribute towards the improvement of education for African child. They also volunteer to hold talks in school and address the need for educating a child and the problems that parents face in sending their children to school.
The theme for the Day of the African Child (DAC) 2022 is “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy & Practice since 2013”.
To all African Child, We say Happy African Day Celebrations!
