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In May 2004, child leader and sponsored child April Rose Chiong had a sense of nostalgia as she returned to World Vision's National Children's Congress in Quezon City. The first congress she attended in 2000 was held at the very same venue, and she said it was like coming full circle.
Since 2000, April has come a long way. From a very shy child who would cry easily when upset, she has gained strength and confidence, rising through the ranks to become a member of the board of the National Coalition of Children’s Association of the Philippines.
April led over 100 child leaders from the country’s major islands – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This meeting allowed the children to unite in prayer amidst diversity in culture, faith and ethnicity.
As he welcomed the delegates, Deputy Director Dan Lucero expressed his admiration for the children’s creativity and energy. Quoting Ephesians 6:1-4, he reminded the children that: “You cannot give peace if you don’t have it.”
Out of the hundreds of children’s associations in the country’s villages and municipalities, the congress united into one, something the children had wanted for a long time. Children aged between 10 and 15, including April, were elected as leaders for the three day activity.
Government officials also took part, reporting to the children that two important Acts had been passed, banning the worst forms of child labour and protecting children from abuse, trafficking and discrimination.
Issues Confronting Children
Forming into small groups, the children identified the issues they were faced with as well as the factors that could change them. In colorful and creative ways,They presented their output in colourful and creative posters: child labor, computer games, drug and child abuse, pollution, prostitution and being away from God.
Through peace and unity in their own communities, environmental programmes, closure of prostitution dens, anti-drug campaigns, support of organizations and youth camps, the children believed the solutions to these issues could be realized.
They narrowed down the issues to three major ones - child labour, education and morality - and challenged government and social workers to expand their work in these areas.
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