“If you fail the first time, it’s fine. Just get up and try again”
More than 15,000 children discussed how climate change affects their human rights and how young people in Scotland are taking action at a special online assembly.
Children’s and Young People’s Commissioner Nicola Killean hosted the assembly for primary-aged children, alongside Sorcha aged 12, a member of the Commissioner’s Young Advisors group. Run in partnership with e-Sgoil, Scotland’s online learning and teaching platform, the assembly was presented with BSL interpretation.
Sorcha and Nicola held a Q&A to explain how the issue impacts a wide range of rights including the right to health and the right to education. The half-hour session included interactive activities and videos made with children and young people.
Nicola said: “The assembly was a fantastic opportunity to highlight climate change and how it affects rights. Children had the opportunity to see what other children around the country have been doing to challenge this as young human rights defenders.
“The assembly aimed to be empowering and inspiring. We were careful not to add to children’s eco-anxiety. We highlighted children’s amazing action, but we were also clear that it is adult decision-makers who are ultimately responsible for tackling the issue.”
Sorcha, from Edinburgh, who co-hosted the assembly with the Children’s Commissioner said: “I felt quite nervous before we started but it was actually really fun and exciting. I loved presenting and the time went by quickly.”
At the assembly, children learned about the Drain Campaign project the Ullapool Seasavers have done in the north-west Highlands to protect the sea and marine life. Children at Mearns Primary, in East Renfrewshire, made a video with the Commissioner’s team, where they explained about their own Drain Campaign. It was inspired by the Seasavers to raise awareness that litter in their playground drains goes all the way out to sea.
Primary Five pupil, Zoe from Mearns Primary, explained that they learned the link between the playground drains and the sea by using a hydrographic survey.
Zoe said: “Burn B starts at our school then it goes to Capelrig Burn, then Auldhouse Burn, then White Cart Water, and then the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde. Then it goes out to the ocean and all around the world.”
Khadijah, also in primary five at Mearns Primary, had some advice for other children who want to take action as young human rights defenders. Khadijah said: “I would say always stay positive. If you fail the first time, it’s fine. Just get up and try again, because you never know, the second time you might achieve it!”
The rights assembly was the first in the Commissioner’s series for primary-aged children for this school year. The next one will be on Thursday, 20 March, to mark UN International Day of Happiness.