Thandiwe Chama

2008-12-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

hello!!!
sorry for not informing you about what has been going on!
in september i went to Kenya with the other guys from Italy and Holland it was fun because we went gto visit other friends in nearby province at an Orphanage

My speech in Stavanger

2008-11-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

Ok I am back. First I will write about Norway. In September I went to Norway because I was invited for a conference I met other guys from Norway, South Africa, Guatemala, Birma, Thailand. Together with them there was also me from zambia. So we had 7 countries all together and the guy from South Africa did a performance in the University of Stavanger. It was really fun I enjoyed it very much. I felt at home with my fellow Africans performing.

The most important day that we had was when I was reading the speech. We went to attend the University. Topics we discussed was about the MDG’s, conflict resolutions and children’s rights. I gave a very nice speech and everyone liked it. The speech I gave was about how to stop war in countries because the children are affected most. Because they than don’t have shelter if they don’t have someone to take care of them anymore. They end up on the streets. Also I spoke about children’s rights, mostly the right to education. Because I think it is the key right to a child for a better future. And every child is a child wheter in the east, in the west, in the north or south. It is still a child. And every child has the right to live and that is the right for life.

Together with me there was an international student from Asia. She also gave a speech. We were the two guests of honour, me and her.

Will be write more soon!

2008-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. Long time I didn't write! But a lot has happened. In september i was in Norway at a congres. I had to talk to a lot of youth from all over the world. Later I will write more but here is a picture. Now i got to go because i have to prepare for a very exiting trip. I am going to Kenya to interview Wangari Maathai. It is a real cool MTV program for europe. I will tell you all about it.

Day of an African Child 2008

2008-07-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

It was on the 16th of june we were commemorating the Day of an African child in Zambia. The theme was "Children to be heard and seen".

On this very day we had a march with my school. We started the march on a place called "On the run" to "Nezdec". I was surprised that I had my own banner!!! As you can see on the picture.

When we arrived I only saw a lot of people seated. Some were dancing and playing the music. And after we finished the march they first sung our national anthem. Then we had the first speech and also there was drama from different schools. Poems were done by our school, the Jack CECUP school. After that I was told to stand up and I was very nervous to stand before the whole group of people. I read the speech that I had prepared.

The speech was about that we children are supposed to be heard and seen. Not only on a national level but on a international level also. Cause we have the right to stand up and speak.
The other thing that I talked about was that the government should build schools for people who are disabled. For example the deaf, the blind and the lim. I emphasised on the right to education. Because for someone who is blind to speak better English, he has to go to school. And also someone who is deaf, has to learn sign language through school.
The government should include all these in the child friendly version.

And after I finished reading I was given a lot of applause! I felt great. But I didn’t cry this time. Then I was told to go and sit. A school of deaf children gave us a performance. A very nice drama, cause even if they are deaf they can also be heard through sign language.

After they called my name. I was told to go in front and I was given a present by the minister of Youth, Sport and Child development. I wasn’t the only one who was honoured by the minister. There was also a boy who rescued a baby in a hole at the university of Zambia.

Immediately after I was being interviewed by one of our Zambian media: MuviTV. And it was shown on television on Zed Kids News. And it was also televised on the national broadcaster ZNBC during the main news.

A lot of interviews

2008-06-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

The moment I arrived at the airport in Zambia I also found a reporter. He asked questions and shot some photos and I appeared in the times of Zambia

Other media that I had was radio Phoenix, one of Zambia’s radio stations and BBC radio (see picture). And i did interviews with the Zambian National broadcasting Cooperation. They came at the Jack CECUP school. I was interviewed and they did some shooting of my daily life at school. I explained a lot.

One of the questions i remember is how did you feel during the trip. Because it was my first time to fly out of the country. I told them that it was very exciting and also scary because it was very far. They also asked about the difference between schools in Zambia and schools in Netherlands. I explained them that in Netherlands a child can not be at home while the friends are at school. They have to go to school. And here in Zambia you can find that maybe the parents can not pay school fees or school facilities like books and other stuff.

I told them that i have the dream that even children in Zambia can all go to school and enjoy the rights to education as a child. Because that is the most important right for a child.

I want to thank the Zambian media for taking note that a girl from their country went out and received an award.

Video of prize Ceremony

2008-06-02T08:14:00.001-07:00

This is a video on youtube. This day that i received the prize was so unexpected. This day I will never forget in my life. It was a shock to find so many white persons in the hall! And the speech it came from deep down my heart and I meant those words very much.
I was surprised that I was crying. I was nervous but it was also tears of joy. Here in Zambia it is difficult especially for a girl to stand up and say something. I was pleased that the people were impressed with my story and that they even asked a lot of questions.

The minister in Zambia

2008-05-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

When I arrived home in Zambia I was welcomed by the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development Hon. Chifire. The minister promised us to talk to the minister of lands so that they can give us a land for the school, so we can build more classrooms.

The Circus!

2008-05-16T03:16:00.000-07:00

Because they were celebrating the Cildrens Peace Prize they organised a circus on the 17th of december 2007 and the titel for the circus was Afrika Afrika. It was fun because there were famous dutch people doing the acts with the normal circus artists.

On the picture you see me on the stage. On the middle there is Marc Dullaert he is the chairman for KidsRights and at the end there is a lady she was presenting the whole show.

For more details www.kidsrights.info

Children's Peace Prize 2007

2008-05-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

This is the time when I was receiving the International Childrens Peace Prize on the 16th of december 2007. It was the official ceremony in the famous Dutch hall called the Ridderzaal. I receve the prize because of the things that I was doing for my friends and many children in zambia about childrens rights.

On my right side is the lovely lady her name is Betty Williams and on my left side is Bob Geldof they are nice people very encouraging. The time I was receiving the prize it was very difficult for me to held my strencth but Bob Geldof and Betty they gave me courage to stand and speak without fear for more than 500 white people.

For more details www.childrenspeaceprize.org

Thanks to all KidsRights board members and also the expert comitee for selecting me as the International Childrens Peace prize winner 2007!

As you can see I was being hugged by Betty on the right side. And on my right there is a guy from India his name is Nirpendra and on the last there is mr Wiseman my school coordinator from Zambia.

Human Rights - my first post on my first blog!

2008-05-16T01:47:00.000-07:00

Hi to every one listening to me am Thandiwe and my family name is Chama.
I am the first born in the family of three i love my family very much!

the reason why I named it Human Rights is because I love knowing my rights and my responsblity as a child. on this blog i will be writing about rights of children and how they are been neglected.

I do this because i am involved in a club called C R C which stands Children Rights Club. because of this CLUB I won the International Childrens Peace Prize