The establishment of Children’s Parliament, an initiative supported by the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), World Vision Ethiopia, Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO), Intervolvo (Netherlands Organizations), Bright Image for Generation Association (BIGA), and secured due support and recognition of Awassa City Administration, is now due to be officially launched with election campaigns of interested children to be held across schools and other places of the town to set up a new Children’s Parliament by the end of this month.

According to CRDA-Awasa Liaison Office, the children parliament will have a goal of creating an opportunity for children to participate in making decision that affect their life or welfare. The election campaign and the debate are believed to help the students to develop transparency and accountability, some of the elements of democratic system. It has also the aim of stimulating leadership’s role and to encourage them to have active participations in child right protection and welfare activities.

In the process of establishing the parliament and conduct election, all children in the town are expected to participate voluntarily in nominating, voting and campaigning for their representatives. Nominees who are willing to compete for the children parliament are due campaigning in the end of this month.

The election campaign will be held in all schools in the town. It is anticipated that like the campaign of the general election for the House of People’s Representative, children will hold debates on policy matters and future endeavors in front of the students.

Children’s campaign and election procedure will get media coverage.

The Awassa Children parliament will have 95 seats. Since the constituencies are composed of students, orphans. Disabled children and others will have good representations in the parliament.

The funding local and International NGOs have injected Birr 300,000, out of which 80 % is covered by World Vision Ethiopia to facilitate the process. The aforementioned and other stakeholders have done major activities and conducted discussion to clear out the ways for children to hold their election properly.

The Election Day will be notified in the future.


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