On National Child Day, it’s children’s time to take over

Toronto, 20 November 2018 – On National Child Day November 20 – also known worldwide as World Children’s Day – UNICEF Canada and decision-makers across the country open their doors to children and listen to what they have to say on issues that affect them. Kids Takeover is a global day of action ‘for children, by children’ to raise awareness for the millions of children around the world who’s rights are being denied. Kids Takeover promotes the active participation of children and young people in decision-making on matters concerning their own well-being and gives them the opportunity to speak up and have their voices heard in areas where they are not often consulted or listened to.

 “Canada’s children have so much to contribute to the world around them, and this is the time for them to be heard. Kids Takeover is a great opportunity for young people to speak up and for decision-makers to listen,” said David Morley, president and CEO at UNICEF Canada. “Decisions are better when young people’s views are included, whether on their education, their health, the environment, or any area of life.”

As part of the day, UNICEF is asking supporters to raise their voices in solidarity with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children by helping ‘turn the world blue’ – by doing or wearing something blue at school, on the streets, on social media, in boardrooms and on sports fields on 20 November.

Kids taking over high-profile roles all over the world

To celebrate the annual commemoration, stars and leaders from the worlds of entertainment, government, sport and business will rally for children in support of their rights, and children will ‘take over’ high-profile roles to highlight issues that are important to them. These include:

• All across Canada, kids are taking over important roles, from Federal Ministers and Provincial advocates all the way to local city halls and individual landmarks.
• Canadian landmarks will light up blue, such as Niagara Falls, Vancouver Convention Centre, Calgary Tower and Toronto City Hall.
• Iconic monuments will light up blue, including Sydney Opera House in Australia, Beijing National Aquatics Center, Water Cube in China, Petra in Jordan, and The Empire State Building in the United States of America.
• In countries around the world, children will take over parliaments in Montenegro, Peru, Tonga, Suriname and Zambia, amongst others. The Taoiseach of Ireland (Prime Minister), Leo Varadkar, will take part in a ‘Kids Takeover’ of his office.
• In Brussels, youth delegates will ‘take over’ the European Parliament and tell leaders about the ‘Europe Kids Want.’
• In Burkina Faso, young people from West and Central Africa will take part in an ‘Africa Dialogues’ speaking series to tell decision makers about the ‘Africa We Want’.
• In India, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar will play a game of unified football with children, with the crowd encouraged to go blue. In addition, children will take over the national broadcaster, Doordarshan, and give awards to MPs that raise children’s issues in Parliament.
• In China, Laos, Lebanon, Nigeria, Oman, Tanzania, the United States and elsewhere, children will take over newsrooms to report on issues that matter to them.
• In The Netherlands, more than 30 children will be given the chance to take on their dream jobs, from managing a football team to working on the most popular Dutch daily soap, Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden.
• More than 50 organizations globally will turn over roles to children or show their support for every child, including FC Barcelona, Beko, All Blacks, Qantas and Amadeus. Johnson & Johnson Headquarters will also be taken over by children as they announce a US$10 million commitment to support UNICEF’s health programmes. The LEGO Group and LEGO Foundation will host a number of `Build the Change’ events around the world where children are invited to share their views on what their dream school looks like.