Children can usually see what is wrong with their lives. But they are not often given the chance to fix it.

In early January, a group of nine sponsored children from urban slums in Jakarta were given that chance when they were invited to take part in a World Vision workshop about involvement in community decisions.

The workshop, provided through a World Vision Canada child rights initiative, aimed to teach children from disadvantaged backgrounds ways to have their ideas and opinions heard.

Canadian development expert Kathleen Lauder took the participants through the basics of citizenship, governance and community rights, then encouraged them to solve the problems they saw around them and brainstorm ways to make the solutions effective.

At home, the participants were facing all the worst challenges of urban poverty: low family income, low parental education and high levels of illness due to unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care. As well, a lack of emphasis on the importance of their own education saw many children drop out of school in favour of work or street life.

One problem common to many was that teachers were leaving school during school time and ignoring the safety and education needs of their students. The participants used this example as their group exercise, learning not just to recognise why the behaviour was wrong, but also how to go about stopping it.

Jaylani, a second grade senior student from the poor urban community of Kebon Pala, was excited to learn about putting together a proposal.

“I am happy to be involved in the workshop,” he said. “It is very interesting… I am getting proper knowledge.”

When asked to identify key problems in his community, Jaylani and his child colleagues listed the cost of education which makes planning for a better future difficult. Standard schooling is often beyond the reach of families, and optional extras such as English and computer skills, essential for university or a good job in Jakarta, are very expensive. The cost of medical care for both children and adults can also affect families’ ability to afford education.

From here, Jaylani will share his findings with other children who attend the Kebon Pala Children’s Club and write proposals for change on the issues they decide are most urgent.

The proposals will be presented to World Vision, and the best ones rewarded with funding and support to implement them.

The Citizenship and Governance Awards Programme was piloted in Jakarta, with plans to extend it throughout World Vision projects in Indonesia and the Philippines in 2007.

More on World Vision's work with child rights