by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) – Child month 2022 seeks to empower children as active members of change globally like Greta Thunberg, 19, who became well-known after she protested outside the Swedish parliament in 2018 at 15-years-old.
Since then, Thunberg has been globally recognised as one of the world’s best-known climate campaigners who spoke just last year at COP26, where she slammed participating countries, saying, “26 COPs, they have had decades of blah, blah, blah – and where has that got us?”.
Fifty years ago, on June 2, the world’s first environment conference took place in Sweden, which raised the alarm about humanity’s impact on the natural environment and ecology of the planet. Fifty years later, climate change remains one of the most critical threats to humanity, and we are on the cusp of a planetary emergency.
Child month is traditionally observed during June. This year is held under a theme that continues to put the Federation’s children to the task early on environmental sustainability; Recycle: Save the Earth for our Children’s Future.
Minister of Education, Hon. Vincent Byron said the theme “is ambitious and timely” and attempts to raise action and awareness of the need to combat climate change through deliberate acts like recycling at any age.
The minister says, “This year, the Child Month celebrations spotlight our children as active partners in response to a national, regional, and global appeal to save the earth.”
Minister Byron highlighted the work of the Early Childhood Sector, providing a critical role in the actions and behaviour of our young children and their impact on all other sectors of society. He further lauded the workers in the early childhood sector for their service and for always championing activities that provide a hopeful and sustainable future for the nation’s children.
The Hon. Troy Liburd, Junior Minister responsible for Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), in his address to declare the opening of Child Month 2022, said, “After navigating the COVID-19 pandemic for two years, we have a renewed sense of the importance of ensuring that we strive to secure the future for our children.”
The Junior Minister also offered commendations to the Early Childhood Unit for leading Early Childhood Development on Nevis and coordinating the annual Child Month celebrations.
Child month will have a host of activities hosted in St. Kitts and Nevis. In St. Kitts, residents can participate in Zonal Sports and Fun Days, Family Church Services and a National Variety Concert. In Nevis, residents will experience Street Parade, Dancing with the Stars, Youth on the Go on VON Radio, Children’s Matinee at NEPAC, a Prince and Princess Pageant, among other events throughout June.
