November 20 is World Children’s Day. It is not well known in Japan, so I researched it to write this article.
It was established by the United Nations in 1954 with the aim of improving mutual understanding and well-being among children around the world. Five years later, on November 20, 1959, the UN established the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which outlines what is best for children, and 30 years later, on November 20, 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was also established. The Convention on the Rights of the Child contains four rights: 1) the right to life, 2) the right to grow, 3) the right to be protected and 4) the right to participate.
The place where I currently take care of the children is the church. Some of the children who meet are not believers, but we are building a community of children, including the spirit of synodality. The main leader takes turns in charge of the “theme of the day”, and the other parents monitor the children’s activities as support.
Children who attend different schools or daycare centers during the week meet at church on Sundays, and regardless of their age or nationality, they listen together to the words of the Bible, pray and participate in recreational activities, and are free to do so. When they spend time like this with their friends, smiles and solidarity arise naturally. This year, in addition to the usual activities, we had a barbecue at the church in the summer, prayed by candlelight in the evening and had a mini sports day in the fall.
For these children, even if the four rights outlined by the UN convention are not respected at school or at home, I believe that the joy of “having friends at church,” the confidence that there are adults who listen to them and the sense of security that there is a place for them in the church will be a great source of strength. I believe that God will work through our friends and that we will grow much in both mind and spirit. I hope that the church will continue to be a family and raise children, who are the treasures of the future.
Lucia Taya Wakana
