On November 20th, Saturday, more than 150 youngsters from throughout the state attended the World Children’s Day 2021 event held at Gujarat Science City.
Elixir Foundation arranged the event in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Gujarat Science City, UNICEF India, and Gujarat Youth Forum.
Moira Dawa, Communication, Advocacy, and Partnership Specialist at UNICEF India, remarked on the occasion, “According to the 2011 Census, approximately 30 percent of Gujarat’s 60 million inhabitants, or 17.8 million, were aged 10 to 24 years. Investing in children and young people to create a more fair, just, and sustainable future for all is central to UNICEF’s mission “..
Netri Trivedi, a well-known actor and theatre artist, emphasised the importance of children’s mental health. According to Trivedi, “Children have powerful minds and are at a key developmental stage. We must provide them the tools they need to be changemakers “..
As part of the celebration, Riverside School students planned a special children-led workshop focused on improving life skills for children such as teamwork, coordination, patience, and strategy-building.
Aarya Chavda, a 12-year-old illustrator and author who described her path of environmental and heritage preservation in Ahmedabad, was among the day’s young speakers.
As part of the young change-makers talk series, Rehan, a 14-year-old community educator, shared his experience of crusading against local environmental pollution, and Mishty Thakker, a 17-year-old social entrepreneur from Vadodara, raised funds for ration kits and medical supplies during the pandemic.
Samriddhi Vaghela, a 13-year-old student at Sheth CN English Medium School, described her experience with social isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, as well as the significance of addressing both mental and physical health in a pandemic-like circumstance. She was presenting as part of a roundtable conversation with children on the topic ‘What Does an Ideal World Look Like?’
On the occasion of World Children’s Day, Madhish Parikh, Founder of Elixir Foundation, stated,
“Listening to young brains from throughout the state give their perspectives and wishes for a post-COVID world was an amazing experience. They deserved to be recognised, empowered, and honoured “.
The Earth Dome at Science City was lit up as part of UNICEF’s global ‘Go Blue’ campaign during the closing ceremony.
Elixir Foundation is a youth project of the Government of India’s President Award winners that strives to unleash the full potential of young people across India through community service.