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Children's Parliament - Free State PRESS RELEASE
NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT ON LEADERSHIP, FREE STATE
28 May 2008 We the children and young people of Free State province have, in this first NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN`S PARLIAMENT on LEADERSHIP have, through discussion and debate learned many things about the conditions and circumstances of children and young people in our province. As a developing province, we in Free State still experience many social problems and challenges like rural development, poverty, discrimination, inequality, HIV/AIDS, crime and other social ills. We acknowledge that while the material condition of children and young people in the country has improved since freedom, not enough attention is being given to children in our province. We have learnt about responsibility and that we, as children, are bearers of Rights and therefore must learn about responsibility, learn to be responsible and to excise that responsibility. We have learnt that we need to be given the space to excise both our Rights and Responsibilities; otherwise the Rights that we have as a result of Freedom in 1994 will become meaningless. Parliament has given us an opportunity to participate in our lives; to be able to express our deep and our innermost feelings; to be honest; to excise our ability to choose and to communicate our stories and experiences to other children and the adult world - parents (mothers and fathers), community leaders, friends and neighbours, educators and religious leaders; government workers and political leaders - all those who carry the responsibility for children and young people lives. We learnt that the South African flag is very meaningful in our lives; that the national slogan of Unity in Diversity was an important outcome of the parliament. We have realised our ability to share ideas and research issues that affect us as children and to be able to speak out in one voice. We have learnt that we can become agents of change in our own lives by doing things for ourselves rather than depending on others. It is important for young people to be courageous, fearless and honest in speaking out about the struggles in their lives. We have learnt in these past weeks of preparations that Tata Madiba has given us, his children, a powerful legacy of communication through dialogue, a tool for solving personal, social and other human problems, conflicts and issues. Therefore, when we look at xenophobic acts of violence, conflicts and ignorance that South Africa experienced in the past weeks we have learnt that we are all Human Beings, God`s Holy temples that should be loved and cared for, no matter what the gender, race, culture, religion, country, or continent on earth that we may come from. We have learnt that love brings people together in unity; love makes everything possible and that most importantly, we have learnt that children in our province and country needs lots and lots of love if we are to grow into proud and responsible Human Beings. Leader of the House: Deputy Leader of House: Leader of the Opposition: Deputy leader of the opposition: Speaker in Parliament: Deputy speaker: And Honourable Parliamentarians
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