STORY: Somalia celebrates International Day of the

African Child
DURATION: 04:04
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 17/JUNE/2017, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot, panning shot of participants who attended the ceremony to mark
the Day of the African Child
2. Med shot, Mohamed Abdikadir Noor, the Director General in the Ministry of
Education listening during the function
3. Med shot, young children reciting a poem during the ceremony
4. Wide shot, young children reciting a poem during the ceremony
5. Med shot, guests who attended the function following the proceedings
6. Wide shot, group of children reciting a poem on stage
7. Wide shot, group of officials and guests who attended the ceremony listening
8. Med shot, Mohamed Abdikadir Noor, the Director General in the Ministry of
Education and other guests listening
9. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) MOHAMED ABDIKADIR NOOR, THE DIRECTOR
GENERAL IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Let us come together for the sake of these children. We can do this in two
ways. One is that a family can take in one of these street children and raise
the child as their own or we can pool resources (money) and establish an
institution to cater for them so that they have a home and get an education.

10. Wide shot, lady singing with a group of children on stage

11. Close up shot, lady singing on stage
12. Med shot, children on stage singing
13. Med shot, Batulo Sheikh Ahmed Gaballe, Chairperson of Somali National
Womens Association, listening
14. Wide shot, lady with a group of children singing on stage
15. Med shot, guests who attended the function applauding
16. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) MOHAMED ABDIKADIR NOOR, THE DIRECTOR
GENERAL IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
I am addressing the parents. If we do not save these street children, the
children we have raised properly in our homes will not be safe because those
children in the streets will come and destroy them. This is what happened to
us in the 90s.
17. Med shot, group of young children listening
 18. Med shot, young girl reciting a poem
19. Med shot, group of youths listening
20. Wide shot, group of youths listening
21. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) BATULO SHEIKH AHMED GABALLE, CHAIRPERSON
OF SOMALI NATIONAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION
Children are assets so we have a responsibility restore their rights. They
have a right to education, parental love and care, health care, security and
stability. We need to give them all these rights as parents.

22. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ASHA OMAR GESDIR, THE DIRECTOR CHILD

PROTECTION IN BANADIR
We should not dictate to children but listen to them, their age
notwithstanding. They can tell us their needs. Somalia ratified the treaty on
the rights of children and a number of initiatives are in the offing to enhance
the rights of children in Somalia to the extent that every ministry now has a
focal point on children.

END

Somalia celebrates International Day of the African Child

Mogadishu, 17 June, 2017 - Somalia yesterday joined the rest of the continent in
marking the Day of the African Child with an appeal to well-wishers to help address
the plight of street children in the country.

The plea was made on Friday by Mohamed Abdikadir Noor, the Director General in
the Ministry of Education, at an event organized by the Ministry of Education,
Culture and Higher Education with the support of the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM). The celebrations were attended by children, government
officials and members of the civil society.

Let us come together for the sake of these children. We can do this in two ways.
One is that a family can take in one of these street children and raise the child as
their own or we can pool resources (money) and establish an institution to cater for
them so that they have a home and get an education, Mr. Noor said.

The official warned that unless timely and positive steps are taken, street children
will remain a ticking time bomb with potential to destroy the future of Somalia.

I am addressing parents. If we do not save these street children, the children we

have raised properly in our homes will not be safe because those children in the
streets will come and destroy them. This is what happened to us in the 90s, Mr.
Noor observed.
Speaking at the same event, The Chairperson of Somali National Womens
Association, Batulo Sheikh Ahmed Gaballe, hailed AMISOM and the Ministry of
Education for organizing the event, saying the celebration will help raise awareness
about the rights of children in the country.

Children are assets so we have a responsibility restore their rights. They have a right
to education, parental love and care, health care, security and stability. We need to
give them all these rights as parents, Ms. Batulo stated.

Asha Omar Gesdir, the Director Child Protection in Banadir Regional Administration,
noted that concerted efforts are needed to ensure the rights of children in Somalia
are protected.

We should not dictate to children but listen to them, their age notwithstanding.
They can tell us their needs. Somalia ratified the treaty on the rights of children and
a number of initiatives are in the offing to enhance the rights of children in Somalia
to the extent that every ministry now has a focal point on children, Ms. Gesdir said.

The Day of the African Child is celebrated every year on June 16. It was initiated by
the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) in memory of the
June 16, 1976, student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. This years theme is
accelerating protection, empowerment and equal opportunities for children in
Africa by 2030.