SPARC kicks off GCE Week with declamation contest

Islamabad

Rameen Babar from Apple Grooming and Mohammad Imran from Saya School received first prizes for their speeched in Urdu and English respectively, at a declamation contest arranged by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) as part of its Global Campaign for Education (GCE) week celebrations here on Monday.

The contest marks the beginning of SPARC’s extensive weeklong campaign comprising live radio programmes and poster competitions between children, hosted by its numerous centres for street children across Pakistan. Culminating with the launch of its annual child rights report, ociety for the Protection of the Rights of the Child GCE week celebrations aim at re-emphasizing this year’s theme of ‘Time to deliver,’ calling for greater accountability and citizen participation with regard to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 i.e., Universal Education for all.

Children from a large number of schools participated in the bi-lingual declamation contest; they included Government Boys Elementary School, Khaldunia, Apple Grooming, Mohsin Model School, Shaheen Public School, and Saya School.

Ranging between 12-14 years of age, all participants wholeheartedly took part in the contest, overseen by a jury of eminent educationists, journalists and child rights activists comprising ociety for the Protection of the Rights of the Child board members and other guests.

Speaking on the occasion, SPARC’s Executive Director Sadia Hussain said, “Uplifting the provision of quality education is one of our core objectives. I am delighted at the enthusiasm shown by all participants and hope that further exposure to such events will positively foster their leadership capabilities.” Child rights activist Arshad Mahmood, who also spoke on the occasion, stressed the need for access to free and quality education for all children alike, without a status quo.