Pupils of different primary schools in the Netherlands were present at the ceremony of the International Children’s Peace Prize 2010. The pupils had participated in the school programme KidsRights has created for elementary schools in the Netherlands. The programme teaches children of grade 7 and 8 about the importance of children’s rights, both on a national and an international level, and about the International Children’s Peace Prize. During the programme the pupils are shown that they also can have impact on the improvement of children’s rights without having to go through great lengths. Just by informing others about the importance of the improvement of children’s rights one they can already help.
The pupils were given the opportunity to attend the ceremony of the International Children’s Peace Prize 2010 and participate in the children’s press conference thereafter. At the children’s press conference, the pupils asked several enthusiastic questions to the special guests and speakers of the ceremony, such as Gerdi Verbeet (President of the Dutch house of Representatives), Jo Becker (Children’s Rights division of Human Rights Watch), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Nobel Peace Laureate) and Baruani (winner of the Children’s Peace Prize 2009). Of course, the children had many questions for the new winner, Francia, as well. The KidsRights Ambassadors, Caroline De Bruijn and Erik de Vogel, were also present. The children were very well prepared with several questions for each speaker. With the many different nationalities present at the press conference, it was a unique “language and translation” fest in Swahili, Spanish, English and Dutch. The host of the press conference and the interpreters were up for a great challenge! But did a wonderful job. The children’s press conference turned out to be a great success, both enjoyed by the speakers as well as the children.