Imagine a world where children collaborate with adults to shape the policies that govern their lives. The Sindh Children’s Parliament is transforming this vision into a ground-breaking reality. You! takes a look…
Parliaments and provincial assemblies are often seen as places of intense debates and heated arguments. We dream of having a voice in these chambers, imagining ourselves actively participating in decisions that affect our lives. In this ideal world, our children take leadership roles, shaping the future with their voices. Initiatives like the Children’s Parliament bring this dream to life by empowering young voices, not just to be heard but to lead.
Children’s parliaments are extraordinary platforms that empower young people to participate in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. These initiatives provide spaces where children can advocate for their rights, promote education, and work towards a more inclusive future. Across the globe, children’s parliaments have proven to be powerful agents of change, fostering leadership, inclusion, and systemic reform. By providing children with structured platforms, these parliaments challenge societal norms and raise awareness about the issues that children face worldwide.
Countries like India, Scotland, Zimbabwe, and Japan have witnessed the transformative impact of children’s parliaments. In Kerala, India, the ‘Bal Panchayat’ has empowered young voices to tackle community issues, allowing them to become active change-makers. Scotland’s ‘Children’s Parliament’ advocates for child rights, enabling young people to work with policymakers to improve conditions for children. In Zimbabwe, the ‘Junior Parliament’ addresses critical issues like education, gender equality, and climate action, advocating for policies that foster a more equitable future. Japan’s ‘Kids’ Guernica’ inspires children to engage with global challenges, nurturing creativity and advocacy. These international examples highlight the immense potential of children’s parliaments to spark positive change.
The concept of a children’s parliament is based on the belief that future leaders should help shape the world they will inherit. These parliaments are not just about giving children a voice; they ensure that their voices are heard and taken into consideration in decision-making processes that impact their lives. Society must recognise the wisdom, creativity, and passion children bring to the table and treat their input with the respect it deserves.
The Bal Panchayat in India exemplifies the profound impact children can have when empowered. In this landmark initiative, young leaders successfully advocated for improvements in health services, leading to the establishment of 21 health centres and ensuring access to daily breakfasts for children. They also pushed for better public facilities, such as toilets, electricity, and clean water, demonstrating that age is no barrier to making meaningful change.
Sindh’s Children’s Parliament: A significant attainment
In Pakistan, the Thar Education Alliance (TEA), in partnership with UNICEF Pakistan and the Reform Support Unit (RSU), has created a pioneering platform - the Sindh Children’s Parliament. The Sindh Child Parliament is the first initiative in the province that provides children with a platform to represent their communities. Focused on the right to education, this initiative gives children and adolescents a platform, across Sindh, to advocate for their rights and tackle issues like gender equity, school retention, and access to quality education.
This ground-breaking initiative has united children from 30 districts across Sindh. Two representatives have been selected from each district, resulting in a total of 64 members, with equal gender representation - 32 girls and 32 boys. The children have been carefully selected through a rigorous screening process to ensure that diverse voices are included. The parliament provides a platform for these representatives to advocate for educational reform and push for equal opportunities. They also participate in the electoral process, electing a seven-member cabinet through democratic voting, further reinforcing their understanding of governance and leadership.
A core principle of the Sindh Children’s Parliament is that children should have the right to voice their concerns and advocate for their rights. By offering them a platform to discuss their issues and propose solutions, the parliament empowers children while fostering leadership skills and building self-worth. The experience also gives children hands-on exposure to governance, as they work within a system that mirrors real political structures. Through this, they learn democratic values and acquire leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
The Sindh Children’s Parliament is inspiring progress by actively engaging children in the democratic process and providing a space for them to express their concerns and ideas. It recognises that children are not passive recipients of education but active leaders who can drive positive change in their communities. The parliament serves as a catalyst for social transformation, encouraging children to participate in shaping educational policies and promoting gender equality.
The election of the seven-member cabinet has marked a significant achievement. It has given children a deeper understanding of the electoral process and allowed them to actively shape the future of education in Sindh. Through debates, manifestos, and open forums, these young leaders have presented their visions for improving education in their districts, further solidifying their role in decision-making.
The Children’s Election Commission of Pakistan has played a pivotal role in educating young participants about electoral processes. By organising manifestos, debates, and open forums, children were able to articulate their ideas for improving education and increasing retention rates.
What is truly remarkable is the deep understanding these children exhibited when developing their manifestos - a term often overlooked in adult elections. The children articulated clear goals and innovative ideas to engage more of their peers in education, addressing systemic challenges in the process. Through this experience, these young individuals are learning the value of participation, responsibility, and leadership, which will shape their future contributions to society.
In December 2024, in a landmark moment for the first-ever Sindh Children’s Parliament, Syeda Rida Batool Kazmi, a 10th-grade student from GHS Tando Allahyar, took the oath as Chief Minister after securing a decisive victory with 40 votes.
Her contender, a ninth grade student from GHS Mithi Tharparkar, Ashok Kumar, trailed behind with 24 votes and became opposition leader. Rida’s success marks a promising beginning for this historic initiative, showcasing young leadership in action.
As Chief Minister, she has launched a campaign to improve school admissions, advocating for a brighter future for all children.
Muskan Malah from GHS Gharo, Thatta, Speaker of the Sindh Children’s Parliament, has become a voice for educational reforms in Sindh. Her commitment to ensuring that every child receives a quality education is truly inspiring.
As Speaker, Muskan has advocated for the allocation of resources to support the education system in Sindh, bringing attention to the need for better facilities, a curriculum that reflects local values, and initiatives to keep girls in school.
Muskan’s leadership has ensured that marginalised communities, particularly those in remote areas, are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
“Children are not just the future; they are partners in the present. Decisions that affect them must include their voices,” elucidates Mr Partab Shivani, CEO of the Thar Education Alliance. The Sindh Children’s Parliament embodies this belief, recognising that children should be involved in decisions that affect their education, health, and well-being. By involving children in governance and advocacy, this initiative empowers them to take ownership of their futures.
The ‘child-to-child’ approach fosters an environment where children learn from and inspire one another. This model creates a supportive network in which children better understand each other’s struggles and work together to overcome common challenges. By giving children a platform to advocate for one another, the Sindh Children’s Parliament strengthens communities and fosters unity.
One of the most powerful outcomes of the Sindh Children’s Parliament is the creation of local heroes. Children no longer need to look to international figures for inspiration; they now have role models within their own communities. Young leaders from Dadu, Tando Allahyar, and beyond are showing that greatness knows no age. This culture of empowerment is reshaping local communities and inspiring future leaders.
As these young leaders advocate for change, they set an example for others to follow. Each success creates a ripple effect, inspiring other children to strive for their own goals and contributing to a movement of empowerment.
The Sindh Children’s Parliament is more than a symbolic initiative - it is a movement for systemic reform. By exposing children to parliamentary processes, democratic values, and gender equity, the initiative is equipping them with the leadership skills necessary for long-term societal progress. Discussions on issues like gender disparities and access to education ensure that reforms are grounded in the lived experiences of children. By involving children in decision-making, the parliament is fostering a more inclusive and equitable system.
By engaging young people in decision-making processes, initiatives like the Sindh Children’s Parliament can help to bridge the gaps in the country’s education system. The parliament is fostering leadership, inclusion, and accountability, ensuring that future generations of Pakistanis will have the tools to solve the challenges they face.
With over 26 million children out of school, 53 per cent of whom are girls, Pakistan remains one of the countries with the largest number of out-of-school children, despite Article 25-A of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to education. This reality underscores the importance of initiatives like the Sindh Children’s Parliament. Pakistan’s young population, with 64 per cent of its citizens under 30, offers a unique opportunity to invest in its future. By empowering children through platforms like the Sindh Children’s Parliament, the country can transform its educational landscape and create a more equitable society.
The future of education in Pakistan lies not just in the hands of policymakers and teachers, but in the hands of the children themselves. The Sindh Children’s Parliament is a beacon of hope, showing that when children are given the chance to lead, they are capable of inspiring change on a global scale.
The writer is a development professional. She can be reached at quratmudasar@gmail.com